Common Phrases: And Where They Come from

by John Mordock and Myron Korach

Discover the fascinating stories behind hundreds of commonly used words and phrases This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158574218X
• ISBN13: 9781585742189
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Lyons Press
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Uncommonly delightful

We found the book loads of fun ... gave it to a wonedrful friend whid is an avid reader ... she loved it and refers to it often...

Common Phrases and Where They Come From

Fantastic book ..... you don't even see the time passing once you start looking through the book!

Fun But Lacking Proof

Fun book that is easy reading. It lacks verifiable proof of statements made by the author but who is going to take the time to question such statements? It if for interesting conversation and fun not for a thesis topic.

NOW I KNOW

I've always been intrigued by common phrases, or idioms, that are part of our everyday language. As a result I was happy to get my hands on this book. After reading COMMON PHRASES: AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM I feel as if many of my questions have been answered. In the introduction, almost as interesting as the body, Morduck and Korach explain the prevalance of idioms in addition to their historical and social significance. Now I realize how these common phrases maintain an important bond between the present and the past. Some of the idioms are so commonplace that I didn't realize their historical significance. Here is an example I found interesting,"Apple of My Eye: It was believed as long ago as the ninth century that the pupil of the eye was a vital spot in the human anatomy. Primitive medical curiousity about it caused the early healers to study the pupil as closely as they could. They concluded that it was apple shaped, and so it become popularly known as 'apple of the eye.' Because the pupil was considered as vital as life itself, it become customary for a gallant hero to call the object of his affections 'the apple of my eye.'" (p. 16)COMMON PHRASES: AND WHERE THEY COME FROM is well worth the money and time if you're as interested in idioms as I am.

Great way to spend your "Mad Money."

This has been a great find. You don't actually "read" it so much as you look up expressions and phrases and sayings in the index and then read them to someone else. A terrific little volume to keep on your desk or even in the backpack. Lots of fun. I don't understand how I can be the first reviewer!