Slang and Euphemism

This dictionary, with approximately 17,500 entries and 40,000 definitions, represents a major step forward in cataloging and explaining prohibited words and subjects. It is a collection of sexual slang and metaphor, prostitute’s argot, homosexual slang, racial slurs, scatology, oaths, verbal weapons, and terms for fears, obsessions, scoundrels, whores, and death. It takes us out of the world of polite society and into a world of free and innovative speech, rich in metaphor and unabashed in its vulgarity and directness. It is the world of slang and euphemism. Dr. Richard Spears has produced an indispensable reference work for the student of language. This title, originally published in 1981, is available on-demand only.

Richard A. Spears, Ph.D., was a professor of linguistics at Northwestern University before he turned to editorial work. He has authored more than 150 books and articles on various aspects of language. His main interest is in phrasal dictionaries and references designed for language learners.