Words Fail Me

by Philip Howard

Book Overview

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195202376
• ISBN13: 9780195202373
• Release Date: February 1981
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 182 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Another expedition into the world of words

This is yet another delightful book by Philip Howard (who was literary editor of The Times of London) where he explores the ins and outs of a few words, phrases and expressions that range all the way from "economics," "crocodile tears" and "as sick as a parrot." Many entries provide information both curious and interesting. For example, "watergate" originally meant a channel of water, then referred to a gate giving access to a channel of water -- a famous example being the "Traitor's Gate" in the Tower of London. Now of course, the Nixon White House has given it new meaning. This book is full of information like this. The section on South African English, depicted in the form of a conversation between an Afrikaaner and an Indian, amuses as it informs.