Depraved and Insulting English

by Ammon Shea and Peter Novobatzky

Book Overview

Originally published as two distinct collections, Depraved and Insulting English brings to light the language's most offensive and obscene words--words that have fallen out of today's lexicon but will no doubt delight, amuse, and in some cases prove surprisingly useful. Who hasn't searched for the right word to describe a colleague's maschalephidrosis (runaway armpit perspiration) or a boss's pleonexia (insane greed)? And what better way is there...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0156011492
• ISBN13: 9780156011495
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

olde english

Depraved and Insulting English. Haven't read it, flipped through it. It's a dictionary, for God's sake! Which is what I expected, And it is humorous. The authors claim the words are all legitimate words. Use them as you wish.

Simply Jumentous!

The young gunsel, the old poger, and the ingler can now rejoice: They *finally* have a book of their own.

Perfect light reading for the linguistic connoisseur

I received this as a gift and have since bought it for others. Is truly as it describes itself - a reference book that you can start reading at any page.The only problem is that you find yourself reading too much at a time, and the definitions will stick as memorable, but the words don't. Often at work I have really wanted to call someone "an odor resulting from the belching of an intoxicated person" but the specific word escaped me. Read slowly and try to use a word a day to get the most out of this book.The gems of this book are the words that sound so dirty but actually have very appropriate meanings. Example: Who wouldn't get upset when called a "pricklouse"? Me, because I know it just means "tailor".This is a perfect gift for the word (or insult) enthusiast who has everything.

Funny and, at times.... useful!

Though I wished this book was a little more organized (beyond simple alphabetizing), I still found it most useful. Great vocabulary to have, especially when you want to let someone have a peice of your mind but don't actually want them to hear you... but you kind of do... but don't... you know the situation.. this book is the key to solving that paradox! So the next time that jobberknowle takes 11 items to the 10-items-or-less isle at the grocery store and starts to pay with a check, you'll find yourself speaking to him/her on terms they aren't familiar with!! Ever been around people who spoke a different language than you, and you knew they were saying something about you but you didn't know what? ...now it's time to level the playing field!! This book is written all in fun, and reads like a book even though it is in dictionary format. You'll definitely get a kick out of it. Some words in the book aren't fully detailed enough to understand, and others are downright useless, but overall this book is a fun read... I do think 10 bucks is a bit steep though... buy it used!

impulse shopping

I was standing at a bookstore's special orders desk, waiting and I picked up this little volume. I was stunned. My laughter flowed like water in Niagra. I've used several of the lovely words, with friends and associates. Last night at my poker game I gave a small educational lecture about the english language, and made sure to keep my drink next to me - so with my compatriots newfound knowledge, they would not find a moment to leint my beer. I recommend this book to anyone that find's language interesting and/or useful.

Quite amusing, really

Can't say that I expected to find this sort of stuff to be funny, but I'll admit I was wrong. Rarely have I laughed like this at a book.