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phrase book

American  

noun

  1. a small book containing everyday phrases and sentences and their equivalents in a foreign language, written especially for travelers.


phrase book British  

noun

  1. a book containing frequently used expressions and their equivalents in a foreign language, esp for the use of tourists

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of phrase book

First recorded in 1585–95


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Like Mustafa tells Mary after he chides her Arabic phrase book, “If it’s important for you, necessary, then the words get power. And like magic, you learn it.”

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2025

That last sentence sounds like she has been studying the Rafael Nadal phrase book, and there is indeed a touch of Nadal in Fernandez on court.

From New York Times ● May 29, 2022

It’s a multilingual phrase book with terms that will help you communicate your dietary restrictions to 96 percent of the world’s population.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 19, 2020

And my phrase book in his back pocket.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 17, 2018

He reviewed his grammar, taking quick peeks at the phrase book.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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