2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions: From White Elephants to Song & Dance

by Charles Earle Funk and Tom Funk

Book Overview

Why do people "take 40 winks" and not 50...or 60, or 70? Did someone literally "let the cat out of the bag" at one point in time? Has anyone actually "gone on a wild goose chase"? Find out the answers... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0883658453
• ISBN13: 9780883658451
• Release Date: September 1993
• Publisher: Galahad Books
• Length: 992 Pages
• Weight: 3.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Sayings & Expressions

This is a nice well kept book, and it is just exactly what I wanted.

Informative and fun

What a fun book! We often pull this one off the shelf when we use an expression and wonder where it comes from. It is a book that invites browsing, and is hard to close once you are into it. We've learned all sorts of great stuff from this book, and since language does not develop in a void, what we have gleaned from this book has led us to research and learning about other areas as well.

For trivia buffs, crossword addicts and etomologists everwhe

I came across this book at a local bookstore that had a selection of books for word lovers. I perused it while I drank my frappacino, and soon was convinced I had to take it home with me. It is the most intriguing book I have ever read. It is formatted like a dictionary, but for everyone who loves word origin and other trivia, you will come back to it time and again. It is an example of useless knowledge at its best. The history of the word "omelette" is absolutely fascinating, and the evolution in the pronunciation of "one" intrigues me. They still can't decide where "hobo" comes from.I should mention one minute drawback--the man who first wrote these books (and his son continues the tradition) lived at the beginning of the twentieth century, so the book isn't as "hip" as the title would seem to indicate. If you aren't already interested in words, this won't get you going.

Let The Cat Out of The Bag!

Oh Horsefeathers! Get the word out! This book is over 900 pages of entertaining trivia of cliches, word origins, historic events, classical literature, and even frontier humor plus MORE! Author, Charles Earie Funk, (yes of Funk & Wagnalls fame) has included four previous bestselling titles, "A Hog On Ice", "Thereby Hangs", "A Tale", "Heavens To Betsy", and "Horsefeathers".I always enjoy referring back to this fun book. It also makes for a good ice-breaker at a party or even a family gathering. Want to distract pinch-cheeking Auntie Rose? Let her have a gander at "2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions".Warning--once you start thumbing through this, you'll be speaking in cliches for days! Superb educational fun for all ages.-CDS-