World English by Robert Hendrickson (2001)

Is "What’s up, Doc?" an appropriate response to a Scot who asks if you’re wabbit?

Is it logical to assume that a cowhand has been dipping into the loco weed when he tells you he’s six feet above snakes?

If an Australian gives you heaps, should you thank him, laugh, get angry, or see a doctor?

With World English, you’ll never be in the dark about the meanings of these and thousands of other English words and phrases. Featuring complete definitions of almost 3,000 English terms from around the world, World English is an endless source of insight, inspiration, and fun for writers, word mavens, international business people, students, and sophisticated travelers alike.

The only A-to-Z reference to English usage around the world

• Features almost 3,000 English words and phrases
• Entries include concise definitions, regions of origin, cross-cultural synonyms, and notes on etymology

"We have adopted as words Bartlett’s and Webster’s; maybe someday, we’ll have Hendrickson’s as a generic term."–Library Journal, from a review of Human Words

Industry Reviews
Around the world, more than a billion people speak English, some fluently and some with only a passing familiarity. Here Hendrickson has compiled a fair representation of words spoken by English speakers of many types, balancing the number of words with the detail of their definitions in a single-volume dictionary. Hendrickson's love of the English language is apparent in his unusual presentation of the book's entries, which provide etymology and region of origin. The heavy emphasis on words from North America and the British Isles is, however, unfortunate. Many sources already cover idioms and expressions from these regions, and the expressions that have gained popularity in places where English is spoken less than perfectly are often the most interesting and illuminating. Hendrickson's previous 25 books include Salty Books, a book about sailors' lexicon, and Animal Crackers, about words we have derived from our relationship with animals. While his latest is entertaining and informing, it is not a topnotch reference book. <BR> --Library Journal