The Godzone Dictionary (2nd edition): of favourite New Zealand words and phrases

Reference

Cryer, Max

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

ReadHowYouWant

In 1855, Miss Jane Ross transcribed the melody played by a piper at an Irish village fair. Had she not, the world would never have heard Danny Boy.” If Robert Burns had missed an old man’s quavering rendition of an ancient Scottish country song, New Year’s revelers would be singing a different tune. A sentimental song from a Civil War-era minstrel show morphed into one of Elvis’ biggest hits. Love Me Tender reveals the surprising origins of these and other favorite songs. Some evolved from folksongs, some from musical theater, while others just came along at the right time. In some cases, a single word made all the difference: Paul McCartney changed scrambled eggs” to yesterday” and a classic was born. With stories from all over the world, and from artists as diverse as Bing Crosby, Big Mama Thornton, and T. S. Eliot, Love Me Tender is a delightful read for every music lover.

Love Me Tender: The Stories Behind the World's Best-loved Songs

Arts & Photography

Music

Frances Lincoln

Common Phrases: And the Amazing Stories Behind Them

This book is as good as gold for word buffs... I kid you not! In day-to-day speech we use words and phrases without a passing thought as to why we use them or where they come from. Max Cryer changes all that by showing how fascinating the English language really is. Did you know that the former host of Today, Jane Pauley, claims to have coined the term bad hair day, or that a CBS engineer named Charley Douglass invented the name and use of canned laughter for television, or that cold turkey as a term for quitting something immediately was popularized by the novel and movie (starring Frank Sinatra), The Man with the Golden Arm? Here you ll learn the origins of credibility gap, my lips are sealed, the opera s not over until the fat lady sings, supermarket, supermodel, there s no accounting for taste, thick as thieves, and hundreds more. For anyone who loves language, this new book will take the cake.

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

ALA Editions

Who Said That First?: The Curious Origins of Common Words and Phrases

Believe it or not, this is probably the first book to attempt to identify the original sources of some of the English language's most common expressions. We might think we know who first said 'famous for fifteen minutes', 'annus horribilis', 'the cold war' and 'let them eat cake'. It's 'a no brainer', you might say, but Max Cryer has a surprise or two in store for you. 'I kid you not'. In this very readable book, he explores the origins of hundreds of expressions we use and hear every day - and comes up with some surprising findings. Never 'economical with the truth', he might just have 'the last laugh'. We learn what they didn't say...'We are not amused'; 'Elementary my dear Watson'; 'Let them eat cake'; 'First catch your hare'. We learn that the Bible doesn't mention Salome - or seven veils...We learn about the origins of the infamous Mile High Club. Written in Max Cryer's delightfully witty style, WHO SAID THAT FIRST? is a wonderful book to dip into or settle a friendly dispute. Remember, good books are 'few and far between', and 'you get what you pay for'. So buy this book, 'go ahead, make my day'.  The inspiration for WHO SAID THAT FIRST? During his years working in Hollywood, Max Cryer became acquainted with Lucille Ball - at the time the world's most popular comedy actress. One day when they were having lunch together, Max complimented her on the amount of pleasure she gave, and Lucille replied: 'I would be absolutely nothing without the writers. It's all to do with the way things are written - they create the springboard for me.' The remark stayed with Max for years, and he realised it was true. Very often the person who said an effective or memorable line didn't actually create it. As Lucille Ball had said, the person in the background should have the credit - but was usually invisible. This is was what motivated him to seek not just popular expressions - but who had actually originated them.

Exisle Publishing

In Superstitions, Max Cryer explains the origins of many of the things we commonly say and observe and why we continue to include them in our lives: kissing under the mistletoe, the unlucky number thirteen, the significance of the bridal bouquet, saying 'bless you' after sneezing, the hanging of a horseshoe, the danger in opals, the Leap Year proposal. So many aspects of our lives are coloured by superstition; now you can discover the reasons for them in this witty and informative book.

Superstitions and why we have them

The Godzone Dictionary is a concise A-Z of the words and phrases that make our New Zealand language and speech patterns so distinctive and individual, from Aotearoa and Avondale spiders to Zambuck and Zespri. Sland words and expressions feature heavily, while one of the unique features of this book is the large number of Maori words that have become a part of our common language in recent years. The listing also includes the popular names of our sports teams (so often confused!) and an appendix of common New Zealand acronyms.

Godzone Dictionary, The: Of Favourite New Zealand Words And Phrases

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Some of the world's best-loved songs have had remarkable origins. Had Robert Burns not heard an old man sing a quavering version of an ancient Scottish country song, we would never have had 'Auld Lang Syne'. Miss Jane Ross wrote down the tune she heard played by a piper at an Irish village fair in 1855. Had she not done so, the rest of the world would not have heard 'Danny Boy'. Marie Antoinette heard a peasant nurse sing an obscure lullaby to her princely son. The empress's unexpected promotion of the song resulted in its now being listed by The Guinness Book of Records as one of the three most familiar songs in the world. Love Me Tender tells the remarkable stories behind 40 popular and traditional songs. Some evolved from folksongs, some are from musical theatre, while others hit the mark because a particular recording appeared at just the right time. In some cases, one word made all the difference: Paul McCartney composed a tune but could only think of the words 'scrambled eggs' to fit it, but fortunately he later came up with the perfect solution - 'Yesterday'. In a book full of surprises and curiosities, Max Cryer reveals stories from all around the world, and from artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby and Cole Porter. This truly fascinating book makes enthralling reading.

Love Me Tender: The Stories Behind the World's Favourite Songs

Humor & Entertainment

Believe it or not, this is probably the first book to attempt to identify the original sources of some of the English language's most common expressions. We might think we know who first said famous for fifteen minutes, annus horribilis, the cold war and let them eat cake. It's a no brainer, you might say, but Max Cryer has a surprise or two in store for you. I kid you not. In this very readable book, he explores the origins of hundreds of expressions we use and hear every day and comes up with some surprising findings. Never economical with the truth, he might just have the last laugh.

Who Said That First?: The curious origins of common words and phrases

Literature & Fiction

Literary

We can all remember the stories we were told as children: Santa Claus lives at the North Pole; St Bernard dogs carry brandy to help lost climbers; Lady Godiva rode naked through Coventry. They were great stories - and we believed them. But are they true? Max Cryer sets out to investigate the truth or otherwise of ideas and beliefs we may have always been told are true, but which on closer examination may not be. For example: Did Winston Churchill coin the term 'Iron Curtain'? 'OK' is an American expression, right? Tulips come from Holland, don't they? Did Sarah Palin say, 'I can see Russia from my house?' The subjects covered in this highly entertaining book are diverse, ranging from politics, science and social history, to language, music and the natural world. Max Cryer approaches each with an open mind, seeking to uncover the truth behind some of our most cherished beliefs. Be prepared for surprises.

Is It True?: The Facts Behind the Things We Have Been Told

History

In day-to-day speech we use words and phrases without a passing thought as to why we use them or where they come from. Max Cryer changes all that by showing how fascinating the English language really is. Did you know that the former host of Today, Jane Pauley, claims to have coined the term “bad hair day,” or that a CBS engineer named Charley Douglass invented the name and use of “canned laughter” for television, or that “cold turkey” as a term for quitting something immediately was popularized by the novel and movie (starring Frank Sinatra), The Man with the Golden Arm? Here you’ll learn the origins of “credibility gap,” “my lips are sealed,” “the opera’s not over until the fat lady sings,” “supermarket,” “supermodel,” “there’s no accounting for taste,” “thick as thieves,” and hundreds more. For anyone who loves language, this new book will “take the cake.”

Business & Money

Personal Finance

Skyhorse

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Cryer, Max. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Cryer, Max

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Cryer, Max. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Godzone Dictionary (2nd edition): of favourite New Zealand words and phrases

Love Me Tender: The Stories Behind the World's Best-loved Songs

Common Phrases: And the Amazing Stories Behind Them

Who Said That First?: The Curious Origins of Common Words and Phrases

Superstitions and why we have them

Godzone Dictionary, The: Of Favourite New Zealand Words And Phrases

Love Me Tender: The Stories Behind the World's Favourite Songs

Who Said That First?: The curious origins of common words and phrases

Is It True?: The Facts Behind the Things We Have Been Told

Common Phrases: And the Amazing Stories Behind Them