Stone the Crows: Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang » (2nd Edition)

John Ayto is an experienced lexicographer and author of many language titles, including the Oxford Essential Guide to the English Language, Twentieth Century Words, and Wobbly Bits and Other Euphemisms. He is also editor of the latest edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.
John Simpson is Chief Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, author of a number of books, and a leading expert on English slang.

Slang is language with its sleeves rolled up, colorful, pointed, brash, bristling with humor and sometimes with hostility. From "five-finger discount" to "buzz off," slang words add zest to everyday speech. Now, in the second edition of The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang, John Ayto and John Simpson have gathered together a vibrant collection of over 6,000 slang terms, drawn from the vast Oxford English Dictionary database.
The volume is organized thematically. Within each section the words are listed chronologically, starting with the century's earliest words and progressing right through to the present, thus illuminating the development of slang and colloquial language over the last hundred years. Each entry contains the headword, part of speech, and definition, and most also have illustrative examples of the term in context, often drawn from writers such as John Updike, John Lennon, and Woody Allen. Many entries contain labels indicating the social group or discipline from which a word derives—such as theatrical, military, or nautical—as well as the place where it originated. In addition, when the term has had more than one meaning, the various senses are listed chronologically. The words have been gathered from all over the English-speaking world, including many from Australia and the United Kingdom. Finally, the book contains a comprehensive thematic index, enabling users to home in on particular areas of interest, such as the body or food and drink, plus a comprehensive index of all words in the dictionary, so you can find a particular expression quickly.
Ultimately, this colorful and informative collection spans the English-speaking world and provides an accurate portrait of slang in the last one hundred years.

Library Journal

Incorporating slang newly emerged or otherwise evolved since the 1996 edition, Ayto (Twentieth Century Words ) and Simpson (chief editor, OED ) have expanded the compilation to over 6000 words and phrases harvested from the Oxford English Dictionary database. Each paragraph-long entry presents an abbreviated etymological provenance, its connotative meaning-whether derogatory or unobjectionably humorous-and employs the word in a sentence to ensure thorough understanding of usage. Recommended for contemporary English literature and cultural studies collections.