The Play of Words
1st Edition
Published on 11. May 2010
288 pages
978-1-4391-3896-0 (ISBN)
Description
Learn the origins of popular phrases in the English language through this exciting book of games perfect for language lovers.
Do you know the connection between the expression A HARROWING EXPERIENCE and agriculture, between BY AND LARGE and sailing, between GET YOUR GOAT and horses, or between STEAL YOUR THUNDER and show business?
You probably have heard the comparisons HAPPY AS A CLAM, SMART AS A WHIP, PLEASED AS PUNCH, DEAD AS A DOORNAIL?but have you ever wondered why a clam should be happy, a whip smart, punch pleased, and a doornail dead?
Through the fifty games included in The Play of Words you'll discover the answers to these questions as well as hundreds of other semantic delights that repose in our marvelous English language.
Do you know the connection between the expression A HARROWING EXPERIENCE and agriculture, between BY AND LARGE and sailing, between GET YOUR GOAT and horses, or between STEAL YOUR THUNDER and show business?
You probably have heard the comparisons HAPPY AS A CLAM, SMART AS A WHIP, PLEASED AS PUNCH, DEAD AS A DOORNAIL?but have you ever wondered why a clam should be happy, a whip smart, punch pleased, and a doornail dead?
Through the fifty games included in The Play of Words you'll discover the answers to these questions as well as hundreds of other semantic delights that repose in our marvelous English language.
More details
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Richard Lederer is the author of more than 30 books about language, history, and humor, including his best-selling Anguished English series and his current book, Presidential Trivia. He has been profiled in magazines as diverse as The New Yorker, People, and the National Enquirer and frequently appears on radio as a commentator on language. Dr. Lederer's syndicated column, "Looking at Language," appears in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States. He has been named International Punster of the Year and Toastmasters International's Golden Gavel winner.
Content
- Cover
- Title Page
- Other Frontmatter
- Copyright Page
- INTRODUCTION
- I METAPHORS
- CONTENTS
- BODY LANGUAGE
- HEARTFELT WORDS
- CLOTHES MAKE THE LANGUAGE
- HOUSEHOLD WORDS
- COLORFUL ENGLISH
- DOWN TO EARTH METAPHORS
- SEAWORTHY METAPHORS
- WEATHER OR NOT
- BEASTLY ENGLISH
- HORSING AROUND
- DOG MY CATS
- FOWL LANGUAGE
- EAT YOUR WORDS
- FACE THE MUSIC
- THE SPORTY ENGLISH LANGUAGE
- II CLICHÉS
- CUT AND DRIED CLICHÉS
- TRITE AS A CLICHÉ
- AVOID CLICHÉS LIKE THE PLAGUE
- DYNAMIC TRIOS
- WHOSE WHAT
- FABULOUS FABLES
- FAMILIAR MISQUOTATIONS
- III SOUND
- ALLITERACY
- INKY PINKY
- TIME FOR RHYME
- SUPER DUPER REDUPLICATIONS
- IV NAMES
- NAME THAT BUNCH
- NAME THAT THINGAMABOB
- FEAR OF PHOBIAS
- AN ANTHOLOGY OF OLOGIES
- FICTIONARY
- WHAT'S IN A NAME
- THE GAME IS THE NAME
- AUTHOR AUTHOR AUTHOR
- IMMORTAL MORTALS
- A JIM DANDY QUIZ
- PUTTING WORDS IN THEIR PLACES
- ENGLISH THROWS THE BOOK AT US
- V DICTION
- POMPOUS PROVERBS
- STAMP OUT DOUBLESPEAK
- HIGHLY IRREGULAR VERBS
- VERBS WITH VERVE
- VI LOGIC
- GOTCHA
- FIGURING OUT AUNT MATILDA
- DIG DOWN TO THE ROOTS
- A COMPOUND SUBJECT
- SPOT THAT ALLUSION
- FORMULAIC THINKING
- PICTURESQUE WORDS
- Crazy EnglishRICHARD LEDERER
- Language
- About the Author
