Curious English Words and Phrases

Curious English Words and Phrases PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
ISBN: 1921966017
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 434

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Book Description
Have you ever wondered where terms like 'end of your tether', 'gets my goat' or 'letting ones hair down' come from? Or why we call some people 'geezers', 'sugar daddies' or 'lounge lizards'? Or where the words 'eavesdropping', 'nickname' and 'D-Day' come from? They are just a few of the many words and phrases that language expert Max Cryer examines in this fact-filled and fun new book. Max explains where these curious expressions come from, what they mean and how they are used. Along the way he tells a host of colourful anecdotes and dispels quite a few myths - Did Churchill originate the phrase 'black dog'? And if 'ivory tower' can be found in the Bible, why has its meaning changed so drastically? Curious English Words and Phrases is a treasure trove for lovers of language. Informative, amusing and value for money, this book is 'the real McCoy'. From 'couch potato' to 'Bob's your uncle', you'll find the explanation here!

Curious English Words and Phrases

Curious English Words and Phrases PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
ISBN: 1921966017
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 434

Get Book

Book Description
Have you ever wondered where terms like 'end of your tether', 'gets my goat' or 'letting ones hair down' come from? Or why we call some people 'geezers', 'sugar daddies' or 'lounge lizards'? Or where the words 'eavesdropping', 'nickname' and 'D-Day' come from? They are just a few of the many words and phrases that language expert Max Cryer examines in this fact-filled and fun new book. Max explains where these curious expressions come from, what they mean and how they are used. Along the way he tells a host of colourful anecdotes and dispels quite a few myths - Did Churchill originate the phrase 'black dog'? And if 'ivory tower' can be found in the Bible, why has its meaning changed so drastically? Curious English Words and Phrases is a treasure trove for lovers of language. Informative, amusing and value for money, this book is 'the real McCoy'. From 'couch potato' to 'Bob's your uncle', you'll find the explanation here!

CURIOUS ENGLISH WORDS AND PHRASES (2ND EDITION)

CURIOUS ENGLISH WORDS AND PHRASES (2ND EDITION) PDF Author: MAX. CRYER
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780369340283
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


The Illustrated Book of Sayings

The Illustrated Book of Sayings PDF Author: Ella Frances Sanders
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
ISBN: 1607749343
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 112

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Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of Lost in Translation and Eating the Sun, a charming illustrated collection of more than fifty expressions from around the globe that explores the nuances of language From the hilarious and romantic to the philosophical and literal, the idioms, proverbs, and adages in this illustrated collection address the nuances of language in the form of sayings from around the world. From the French idiom “to pedal in the sauerkraut” (meaning, “to spin your wheels”), to the Japanese idiom “even monkeys fall from trees” (meaning, “even experts can be wrong”), The Illustrated Book of Sayings reveals the remarkable diversity, humor, and poignancy of the world’s languages and cultures.

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 ...

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time PDF Author: Mark Haddon
Publisher: Anchor Canada
ISBN: 0307371565
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
A bestselling modern classic—both poignant and funny—narrated by a fifteen year old autistic savant obsessed with Sherlock Holmes, this dazzling novel weaves together an old-fashioned mystery, a contemporary coming-of-age story, and a fascinating excursion into a mind incapable of processing emotions. Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, Christopher is autistic. Everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning for him. At fifteen, Christopher’s carefully constructed world falls apart when he finds his neighbour’s dog Wellington impaled on a garden fork, and he is initially blamed for the killing. Christopher decides that he will track down the real killer, and turns to his favourite fictional character, the impeccably logical Sherlock Holmes, for inspiration. But the investigation leads him down some unexpected paths and ultimately brings him face to face with the dissolution of his parents’ marriage. As Christopher tries to deal with the crisis within his own family, the narrative draws readers into the workings of Christopher’s mind. And herein lies the key to the brilliance of Mark Haddon’s choice of narrator: The most wrenching of emotional moments are chronicled by a boy who cannot fathom emotions. The effect is dazzling, making for one of the freshest debut in years: a comedy, a tearjerker, a mystery story, a novel of exceptional literary merit that is great fun to read.

Informal English

Informal English PDF Author: Jeffrey Kacirk
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 9780743254939
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
Gleaned from dictionaries, dialect glossaries, etymological treatises, folklore, nautical lexicons, historical writings, notes, novels, and miscellaneous lexicography, "Informal English" offers a captivating, readable treasure trove of about 2,500 words.

Curious Phrases (Collins Dictionary of)

Curious Phrases (Collins Dictionary of) PDF Author: Leslie Dunkling
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
ISBN: 0007598122
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 320

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Book Description
The ebook edition of the Collins Dictionary of Curious Phrases is an updated and revised version of Leslie Dunkling’s classic work on curious and baffling phrases.

Passing English of the Victorian Era

Passing English of the Victorian Era PDF Author: J Redding Ware
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789354029905
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 282

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Book Description
This book has been considered by academicians and scholars of great significance and value to literature. This forms a part of the knowledge base for future generations. So that the book is never forgotten we have represented this book in a print format as the same form as it was originally first published. Hence any marks or annotations seen are left intentionally to preserve its true nature.

Mental Floss: Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words

Mental Floss: Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words PDF Author: Erin McCarthy
Publisher: Weldon Owen International
ISBN:
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
Ever wonder if there is a synonym for the word synonym? Or why people really hate the word “moist?” Maybe you want to know why we tell a person to take something “with a grain of salt,” or why McDonalds went to war with a dictionary. From obscure words to the best literary insults ever written, this linguistic miscellany is sure to spice up your vocabulary, make you a whizz at word games, and prepare you for plenty of wordy repartee for your next soiree, with some of the most bizarre terms you never knew you needed. A CACOPHONY OF WORDS: Learn the meaning and surprising history of hundreds of words and phrases LOTS OF LISTS: Discover curated collections of literary insults, old-timey words, popular slang, and much more WORD GAME WIZ: Includes tips for mastering popular word games from Scrabble to Wordle WIT FOR WRITERS: Writers looking for just the right word will be inspired by hundreds of unusual and obscure words REFERENCE FOR READERS: Fans of every genre, from Norse Myths to Victorian Romance will find histories, origins, and backstories of the words that make up their favorites reads COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Mental Floss: The Curious Reader, Mental Floss: The Curious Movie Buff, and Mental Floss: The Curious Viewer are also available.

Dictionary of the Strange, Curious and Lovely

Dictionary of the Strange, Curious and Lovely PDF Author: Robin Devoe
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781545109274
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 150

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Book Description
A dictionary of English's 3500 most interesting and/or beautiful words. Many are obscure words -- this book is not useful for foreigners learning English, but best enjoyed by fluent or native speakers. A book for word-lovers who enjoy learning and appreciating more of the English language. Includes some poetical quotes showing usage and select etymologies.