dictionary
Related to dictionary: thesaurus
a walking dictionary
A person who has a very large vocabulary or knows the definition of many words and who can recite them when asked. You should ask my brother what it means—he's a walking dictionary! Compared to most sixteen-year-olds, Sarah is a walking dictionary. She must read a lot in her spare time.
See also: dictionary, walking
a walking encyclopedia
A person who has a very large and detailed knowledge of a diverse array of facts and who can recite them when asked. Lily's like a walking encyclopedia when it comes to reptiles.
See also: encyclopedia, walking
have swallowed a dictionary
To use an extensive vocabulary, especially by incorporating uncommon words into one's speech. That guy sounds like he's swallowed a dictionary—none of the kids can follow what he's saying.
See also: dictionary, have, swallow
swallow the dictionary
To have and utilize a very extensive vocabulary; to use a variety of long, complicated, or uncommon words in one's speech. She must have swallowed a dictionary, because it was very hard to follow along with all the big words she was throwing around. Why do you always have to talk to use like you swallowed a dictionary?
See also: dictionary, swallow
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
a walking dictionary
ora walking encyclopedia
If you describe someone as a walking dictionary or a walking encyclopedia, you mean that they know a lot of words or facts. She raised five of us on her own and she's a walking dictionary. He was a walking encyclopedia of music, full of wit and charm. Note: People sometimes use other words instead of dictionary or encyclopedia. He's a walking database on anything relating to insurance.
See also: dictionary, walking
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
have swallowed a dictionary
use long and obscure words when speaking. informalSee also: dictionary, have, swallow
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
a walking ˈdictionary, encycloˈpedia, etc.
(informal) used to describe a human or living example of the thing mentioned: Geoff is a walking encyclopedia. He knows about everything. She’s a walking dictionary (= she knows a lot of words).See also: walking
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
swallow the dictionary
tv. to acquire an enormous vocabulary. (Usually in the past tense.) My uncle says I’ve swallowed the dictionary. That’s because I know so many big words.
See also: dictionary, swallow
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- a walking dictionary
- a walking dictionary, encyclopedia, etc.
- encyclopedia
- rote
- by heart
- walking encyclopedia
- walking encyclopedia, a
- a walking encyclopedia
- know (something) by heart
- know by heart