Common Phrases

Common Phrases PDF Author:
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1599216833
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 203

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Book Description

Common Phrases

Common Phrases PDF Author:
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1599216833
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 203

Get Book Here

Book Description


Watch Your Tongue

Watch Your Tongue PDF Author: Mark Abley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1501172298
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
Phrases, idioms, and clichés—why do we say the things we say? Watch Your Tongue explores weird and wonderful everyday sayings and what they reveal about us. Do you ever wonder why you shouldn’t have a cow but you should seize a bull by its horns? Who has the better reputation in language—cats or dogs? Do you sometimes feel that our speech is all smoke and mirrors or that our expressions simply make no sense? In Watch Your Tongue, award-winning author Mark Abley explores the phrases, idioms, and clichés of our everyday language. With wit and subtle wisdom, he unravels the mysteries of these expressions, illuminating the history, tradition and stories behind everything we say. Pulling examples from Shakespeare’s plays to sports team names, ancient Rome to Twitter, Abley shares samples and anecdotes of the eccentric ways that we play with, parse, and pattern language. Why do so many companies use fruit for their brand names? What do politicians mean when they say they’re going to “drain the swamp”? Why does English use chickens to signify cowardice? Abley dives into the history and psychology behind these examples and countless others, unpacking their significance (and sheer absurdity) to show how our language developed, where it is headed, and what we can learn about ourselves from it. Whimsically illustrated, easily browsable, and full of catchy sidebars, Watch Your Tongue celebrates how we amuse ourselves with words and what our sayings reveal about the way we see the world.

Who Said That First?

Who Said That First? PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: ReadHowYouWant.com
ISBN: 1458785599
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 406

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Book Description
Believe it or not, this is probably the first book to attempt to identify the original sources of some of the English language's most common expressions. We might think we know who first said famous for fifteen minutes, annus horribilis, the cold war and let them eat cake. It's a no brainer, you might say, but Max Cryer has a surprise or two in ...

Everyday Phrases

Everyday Phrases PDF Author: Neil Ewart
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780713713541
Category : English language
Languages : en
Pages : 162

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Book Description
Explains the meaning and implication of 400 phrases commonly used throughout the English-speaking world, such as: eager beaver and sour grapes.

A Pair of Blue Eyes

A Pair of Blue Eyes PDF Author: Thomas Hardy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 274

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Book Description


Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red

Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red PDF Author: Andrew Thompson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1612436951
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description
Discover hundreds of entertaining and often hilarious etymological journeys, by the bestselling author of Can Holding in a Fart Kill You? English is filled with curious, intriguing and bizarre phrases. This book reveals the surprising, captivating and even hilarious origins behind 400 of them, including: • Read between the Lines • Cat Got Your Tongue? • Put a Sock in It • Close, but No Cigar • Bring Home the Bacon • Caught Red-Handed • Under the Weather • Raining Cats and Dogs Perfect for trivia and language lovers alike, this entertaining collection is the ultimate guide to understanding these baffling mini mysteries of the English language.

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville

The Travels of Sir John Mandeville PDF Author: John Mandeville
Publisher: Wyatt North Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 1647980542
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville is the chronicle of the alleged Sir John Mandeville, an explorer. His travels were first published in the late 14th century, and influenced many subsequent explorers such as Christopher Columbus.

Origins of Words and Phrases

Origins of Words and Phrases PDF Author: Reader's Digest Association, Limited
Publisher: Reader's Digest Association
ISBN: 9780276442445
Category : English language
Languages : en
Pages : 382

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Book Description
Reveals the secrets, scandals and surprises behind the words used every day. This book includes the stories and the personalities that have helped shape the English language from William Shakespeare and Lord Byron, to Rudyard Kipling and Salmon Rushdie.

Why Do We Say That? 101 Idioms, Phrases, Sayings & Facts! A Brief History On Where They Come From!

Why Do We Say That? 101 Idioms, Phrases, Sayings & Facts! A Brief History On Where They Come From! PDF Author: Scott Matthews
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781922531261
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 122

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Book Description
Why do you "call shotgun" when you want the front passenger seat? What does "letting the cat out of the bag" have to do with divulging secrets? Why do you ask people to "cut to the chase"? How come you hear all those juicy rumors "through the grapevine"? Like many people you've probably used idioms or phrases like these without giving them a second thought. But if you were to take a moment to step back and learn about them you'll be pleasantly surprised to discover the mesmerizing and sometimes outright bizarre origins to these fun sayings! In "Why do we say that," we have curated 101 of the most regularly used idioms, proverbs, turns of phrases, and colloquial terms that have the most fascinating backstories. For each phrase, we have explained how it was coined, how its use evolved through the ages, and how it gained its contemporary use. Inside you will discover: What the sanitary conditions of 17th century London have to do with it's "raining cats and dogs" today. Why taking things "with grain of salt" has to do with an ancient remedy for poison. What Southeast Asian warrior traditions have to do with the term "to run amuck." Why "to break a leg" became something worth aspiring to in the Elizabethan theatres. And many many more Click the BUY NOW button at the top of the page to unravel the mysteries behind popular English idioms.

Phrases and Names, Their Origins and Meanings

Phrases and Names, Their Origins and Meanings PDF Author: Trench H. Johnson
Publisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 215

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Book Description
'Phrases and Names, Their Origins and Meanings' is a one-of-a-kind encyclopedic work that offers plain statements of facts on the origins of popular phrases and names, alphabetically organized for easy reference. Trench H. Johnson's expertise in the subject matter, acquired through years of omnivorous reading and patient inquiry, has culminated in a comprehensive and fascinating compilation of linguistic curiosities that is sure to satisfy the curiosity of any word lover. From the history of place-names to the evolution of expressions, including a plethora of slang terms and Americanisms, this book offers a wealth of knowledge that opens up the history of peoples and civilizing influences.