Gobsmacked!

Gobsmacked! PDF Author: Ben Yagoda
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691262306
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 288

Get Book Here

Book Description
A spot-on guide to how and why Americans have become so bloody keen on Britishisms—for good or ill The British love to complain that words and phrases imported from America—from French fries to Awesome, man!—are destroying the English language. But what about the influence going the other way? Britishisms have been making their way into the American lexicon for more than 150 years, but the process has accelerated since the turn of the twenty-first century. From acclaimed writer and language commentator Ben Yagoda, Gobsmacked! is a witty, entertaining, and enlightening account of how and why scores of British words and phrases—such as one-off, go missing, curate, early days, kerfuffle, easy peasy, and cheeky—have been enthusiastically taken up by Yanks. After tracing Britishisms that entered the American vocabulary in the nineteenth century and during the world wars, Gobsmacked! discusses the most-used British terms in America today. It features chapters on the American embrace of British insults and curses, sports terms, and words about food and drinks. The book also explores the American adoption of British spellings, pronunciations, and grammar, and cases where Americans have misconstrued British expressions (for example, changing can’t be arsed to can’t be asked) or adopted faux-British usages, like pronouncing divisive as “divissive.” Finally, the book offers some guidance on just how many Britishisms an American can safely adopt without coming off like an arse. Rigorously researched and documented but written in a light, conversational style, this is a book that general readers and language obsessives will love. Its revealing account of a surprising and underrecognized language revolution might even leave them, well, gobsmacked.

Knickers in a Twist

Knickers in a Twist PDF Author: Jonathan Bernstein
Publisher: Canongate Books
ISBN: 0857869450
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 295

Get Book Here

Book Description
Brits and Americans dress the same, eat at the same chain restaurants and pass music back and forth across the Atlantic. But the second we Brits open our mouths, all bets are off. The aim of these unscholarly pages is to guide you through the jungle of British slang, uncovering the etymology but also illuminating the correct usage. And if it doesn't accomplish that, at least you'll be aware that when a British citizen describes you as a "wally," a "herbert," a "spanner," or a "bampot," he's not showering you with compliments. Knickers in a Twist is as indispensable as a London city guide, as spot-on funny as an episode of The Office, and as edifying as Eats, Shoots & Leaves. Screenwriter Jonathan Bernstein's collection of Cockney rhyming slang, insults culled from British television shows of yore, and regional and "high British" favourites provides hours of educational, enlightening, even lifesaving hilarity. PIG'S EAR Incompetent execution of a relatively simple task; also a delicious repast. BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE WITH A SHARP STICK Another way of reminding an ungrateful recipient that the paltry amount he is receiving for, say, compiling a list of British slang is better than nothing at all. SICK AS A PARROT Horribly disappointed; most frequently employed by heartbroken UK football fans after their hopes of international glory are once again dashed. FANCY THE PANTS OFF To sexually desire someone so intensely that their clothes spontaneously disappear. Only the first four words of the previous sentence are technically accurate.

The Underpants

The Underpants PDF Author: Steve Martin
Publisher: Hachette Books
ISBN: 0316348368
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 146

Get Book Here

Book Description
Theobald Maske has an unusual problem: his wife's underpants won't stay on. One Sunday morning they fall to her ankles right in the middle of town--a public scandal! Mortified, Theo swears to keep her at home until she can find some less unruly undies. Amid this chaos he's trying to rent a room in their flat. The prospective lodgers have some underlying surprises of their own. In The Underpants, Steve Martin brings his comic genius and sophisticated literary style to Carl Sternheim's classic 1910 farce, Die Hose. His hilarious new version was staged by Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, and opened in March '02 on Off-Broadway to critical acclaim.

Creepy Pair of Underwear!

Creepy Pair of Underwear! PDF Author: Aaron Reynolds
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 148147670X
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 46

Get Book Here

Book Description
From the celebrated team behind Creepy Carrots!, Aaron Reynolds and Caldecott Honor winner Peter Brown, comes a hilarious (and just a little creepy) story of a brave rabbit and a very weird pair of underwear. Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny anymore. He’s not afraid of the dark, and he’s definitely not afraid of something as silly as underwear. But when the lights go out, suddenly his new big rabbit underwear glows in the dark. A ghoulish, greenish glow. If Jasper didn’t know any better he’d say his undies were a little, well, creepy. Jasper’s not scared obviously, he’s just done with creepy underwear. But after trying everything to get rid of them, they keep coming back!

Flying by the Seat of My Knickers

Flying by the Seat of My Knickers PDF Author: Eliza Watson
Publisher: Elizabeth Watson
ISBN: 0989521966
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 174

Get Book Here

Book Description


Vegetables in Underwear

Vegetables in Underwear PDF Author: Jared Chapman
Publisher: Abrams
ISBN: 1613127405
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 44

Get Book Here

Book Description
A bunch of friendly vegetables wear colorful underwear of all varieties—big, small, clean, dirty, serious, and funny—demonstrating for young ones the silliness and necessity of this item of clothing. The unexpectedness of vegetables in their unmentionables is enough to draw giggles, but the pride with which the “big kid” attire is flaunted in front of the baby carrots in diapers will tickle readers of all ages. With rhyming text that begs to be chanted aloud and art that looks good enough to eat, this vibrant story will encourage preschoolers to celebrate having left those diapers behind!

The Ultimate Cockney Geezer's Guide to Rhyming Slang

The Ultimate Cockney Geezer's Guide to Rhyming Slang PDF Author: Geoff Tibballs
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1407028316
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 290

Get Book Here

Book Description
Would you Adam and Eve it? Over a hundred years after it was first heard on the streets of Ye Olde London Towne, Cockney rhyming slang is still going strong, and this book contains the most comprehensive and entertaining guide yet. Presented in an easy-to-read A to Z format, it explains the meaning of hundreds of terms, from old favourites such as apples and pears (stairs) and plates of meat (feet) to the more obscure band of hope (soap) and cuts and scratches (matches) through to modern classics such as Anthea Turner (earner) and Ashley Cole (own goal), as well as providing fascinating background info and curious Cockney facts throughout. Also included are a series of language tests so that readers can brush up on their newfound knowledge on their way to becoming a true Cockney Geezer. All in all, The Ultimate Cockney Geezer's Guide to Rhyming Slang is well worth your bread and honey to have a butcher's.

Deadly Sugar

Deadly Sugar PDF Author: Ofelia Gränd
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
ISBN: 1646568737
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 85

Get Book Here

Book Description
After six years of a relationship going nowhere, Jett Thompson has moved away to start over. Maybe his new neighbour David can help distract him from the ache left by his ex's absence. To get closer to David, Jett invites himself for a cup of tea, but things don’t go as planned. David is standoffish and secretive, and when Jett asks about the strange noises coming from the back of his garden, he gets no answers. David’s life is good. He has a whole root cellar full of lovers, and he doesn’t need a nosy neighbour meddling in his business. He doesn't need a friend, but maybe he can make room for another lover. Jett might make beautiful cakes, but David knows nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

The Pig's Knickers

The Pig's Knickers PDF Author: Jonathan Emmett
Publisher: Walker
ISBN: 9781406329599
Category : Children's stories
Languages : en
Pages : 32

Get Book Here

Book Description
Pig's new polka-dot knickers make him feel so special that he can't stop showing off in them. 'What do you think of me in my new knickers?' he asks, as he parades proudly past his friends. But is it really Pig's knickers that are so extraordinary, or is it something else?

Itchy, Scritchy, Scratchy Pants

Itchy, Scritchy, Scratchy Pants PDF Author: Steve Smallman
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781848699410
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 32

Get Book Here

Book Description
Five nippy Vikings set out hiking, off on an adventure to find some yeti fluff. As in the chilly weather, no underpants are better, than a pair of knickers knitted from the stuff!

Don't Get Your Knickers in a Twist!

Don't Get Your Knickers in a Twist! PDF Author: Paul Cookson
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
ISBN: 9780330397698
Category : Children's poetry, English
Languages : en
Pages : 88

Get Book Here

Book Description
A superb collection of very clever, very funny poems based on idioms, figures of speech and generally playing with words for example - Giving a Dog a Bad Name, Raining Cats and Dogs, Losing Your Marbles, Keep Your Eyes Peeled and many many more. Paws For Thought; My dog was staring at his feet; Was it something he had caught? Why no My dog was thinking. He was having paws for thought. Roger Stevens