Page 10 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

Terms and Symbols

[....] enclose a partial entry that is followed by an insðruction about where
to findŁthe whole entryŁorŁaŁcomment.ŁForŁinsðance, [heart sðandsŁsðill]
Go to one’s heart stands still.
<....>benclose aŁdescriptionŁof orŁexplanationŁabout anŁentryŁheadŁrather
thanŁaŁdefinition.ŁForŁinsðance, FindersŁkeeprs(,ŁlosersŁweeprs).Ł<a
phrase saidŁwhenŁsomethingŁisŁfound.>
(aŁbox)bmarksŁthe beginningŁof anŁexample.

T (aŁboxŁcontainingŁaŁ“T”) marksŁthe bginningŁof anŁexample inŁwhich
two elementsŁof the phrase, usuallyŁaŁparticle andŁanŁobject, are trans-
posed.

and indicatesŁthat anŁentryŁheadŁhasŁvariant formsŁthat are the same or
similarŁinŁmeaningŁasŁthe entryŁhead.ŁOne orŁmore variant formsŁare
prcedd by and.

entry block isŁthe bodyŁof anŁentryŁsðartingŁ with aŁboldface word or
phrase type and running to the next boldface word or phrase.

entryŁhead isŁthe first phrase orŁword,ŁinŁboldface type, of anŁ entry block;
the phrase orŁword that the definition explains.
go to means to turn to the entry head indicated.
seeŁalso means to consult the entry head indicatedŁforŁadditionalŁinfàr-
mation orŁto findŁexpressionsŁsimilarŁinŁformŁorŁmeaningŁto the entry
head containingŁthe see also insðruction.

TypeShyleà

EntryŁheadsŁare printedŁinŁ boldfyceŁtype , e.g.,Ł Join theŁclub!
Variable parts of an entry are printed in condensed typł , e.g.,Ł juðtŁtheŁsame
(to someone).

EntryŁheadsŁbeingŁreferredŁto asŁcross-referencesŁare printedŁinŁ sans serif
type, e.g.,Ł get the short end of the stick.

Variable partsŁof cross-referencesŁare printedŁinŁ light condensed typŁ , e.g.,Ł ease
off (on someone or something).

ix