The cat's pajamas, the bee's knees, and the whole nine yards rolled into one, this true feast for word lovers skewers commonly accepted word-origin myths and etymological folktales. Writing with flair and authority, word maven and Oxford English Dictionary contributor Michael Quinion shows us that the real story behind a word or phrase is often much stranger than the commonly accepted one. With this book in your arsenal, you'll have the last word in every word-lover's game of one-upmanship. So if you've ever wondered why we utter such oddities as "raining cats and dogs," "I couldn't care less," or "twenty-three skidoo," this one's for you. No ballyhoo!

Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins

Reference

Quinion, Michael

Words, Language & Grammar

Harper-perennial

Can it really be true that 'golf' stands for 'Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden'? Or that 'rule of thumb' comes from an archaic legal principle that a man may chastise his wife, but only with a rod no thicker than his thumb? These and hundreds of other stories are commonly told and retold whenever people meet. They grow up in part because expressions are often genuinely mysterious. Why, for example, are satisfying meals 'square' rather than any other shape? And how did anyone ever come up with the idea that if you're competent at something you can 'cut the mustard'? Michael Quinion here retells many of the more bizarre tales, and explains their real origins where they're known. This is a fascinating treasure-trove of fiction and fact for anyone interested in language.

Port Out Starboard Home: And Other Language Myths

Foreign Language Study & Reference

Penguin Uk

Long-time word-detective and bestselling author of Port Out, Starboard Home, Michael Quinion brings us the answers to nearly two hundred of the most intriguing questions he's been asked about language over the years. Sent to him by enquiring readers from all around the globe, Michael's answers about the meanings and histories behind the quirky phrases, slang and language that we all use are set to delight, amuse and enlighten even the most hardened word-obsessive. Did you know that 'Blighty' comes from an ancient Arabic word? Or that Liberace cried his way to the bank so many times people think he came up with the phrase? That 'cloud nine' started out as 'cloud seven' in the speakeasies of '30s America? And that the first person to have their thunder stolen was a dismal playwright from Drury Lane? Michael Quinion's Why is Q Always Followed By U? is full of surprising discoveries, entertaining quotations and memorable information. There are plenty of colourful stories out there, but Michael Quinion will help you discover the truth that lies behind the cock-and-bull stories and make sure you're always linguistically on the ball.

Why is Q Always Followed by U?: Word-Perfect Answers to the Most-Asked Questions About Language

History

Penguin Global

The codebook has arrived! Some of the most common--and often misinterpreted--parts of English language construction are prefixes and suffixes. Ologies and Isms unlocks the meaning of these building blocks that make up so much of our modern medical and technical vocabulary. In accessible, plain language this book explains what each affix means. With its huge store of examples--over 10,000 across 1,250 entries--this ready reference illustrates the numerous ways that each is used in everyday speech and writing. Organized in a handy A to Z format, the book features a full Introduction, a section with definitions of technical terms, and a selective thematic index. Anyone (and there are quite a few of us) who has puzzled over 'antidisestablishmentarianism' or struggled with 'histopathologist' will welcome this volume for the relief it provides.

Ologies and Isms: A Dictionary of Word Beginnings and Endings (Oxford Quick Reference)

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Oxford University Press

Some of the most common--and often misinterpreted--parts of English language construction are prefixes and suffixes. Ologies and Isms unlocks the meaning of these building blocks that make up so much of our modern medical and technical vocabulary. In accessible, plain language this book explains what each affix means. Containing over 10,000 examples within 1,250 entries, this ready reference illustrates the numerous ways that each example is used in everyday speech and writing. In addition, a selective thematic index breaks predixes and suffices down by theme, for example, biochiemistry and drugs, living world, and places and people. Organized in a handy A to Z format, the book features a full Introduction, as well as a section with definitions of technical terms. After reading logies and Isms, language enthusiasts, crossword and word game lovers, and anyone who has puzzled over 'antidisestablishmentarianism' or struggled with 'histopathologist' will have a better understanding of the language of the world around them.

Gallimaufry: A Hodgepodge of Our Vanishing Vocabulary

When did you last hear someone refer to the wireless? What was the original paraphernalia? Would you wear a billycock? Language is always changing, and in Gallimaufry: A Hodge-Podge of Words Vanishing from Our Vocabulary Michael Quinion has gathered together some fascinating examples of words and meanings which have vanished from our language. Sometimes a word is lost when the thing it describes becomes obsolete, sometimes it survives in a figurative sense while the original meaning is lost, and sometimes it simply gives way to a more popular alternative. The story of these and many other words opens a window into the lives of past speakers of the English language.

Gallimaufry: A Hodgepodge of our Vanishing Vocabulary

When did you last hear someone refer to the wireless? What was the original meaning of roly-poly?  Do you know the derivation of the expression tin-horn gambler?      Language is always changing, and in Gallimaufry, Michael Quinion has gathered together hundreds of fascinating examples of words and meanings which have vanished from our language.  Sometimes a word is lost when the thing it describes becomes obsolete, sometimes it survives in a figurative sense while the original meaning is lost, and sometimes it simply gives way to a more popular alternative. We discover that scuttlebutt was the name of a water cask on a ship, around which sailors might gossip, the naval equivalent of the office water cooler. The popular hat Fedora got its name from a character in a French play (Fedora Romanov, played by Sarah Bernhardt). Fast and loose was originally the name of a sixteenth-century gambling game, which could easily be fixed. Eventually the game vanished, but the name remains, now meaning "to cheat" or "bend the rules." And Mick Jagger might be chagrined to learn that his last name comes from a Yorkshire dialect word for peddler. All told, the book includes over a thousand curious words grouped under such headings as Food and Drink, Health and Medicine, and Entertainment and Leisure. Quinion concludes the book with an index of featured words.        Slangwhanger and Hornswoggle, Inkhorn and Hotpot--the story of these and many other words opens a window into the lives of past speakers of the English language. Lighthearted but learned, Gallimaufry offer a feast of curiosities for word lovers everywhere.  "Quinion, a slashing-edge lexicographer who is host of the useful World Wide Words website, delights in debunking myths."                                --William Safire, New York Times

Gallimaufry: A Hodge Podge of Our Vanishing Vocabulary

When did you last hear someone refer to the wireless? Do you know the origin of the expression tin-horn gambler? Language is always changing, and in Gallimaufry, Michael Quinion has gathered together hundreds of fascinating examples of words and meanings which have vanished from our language. Sometimes a word is lost when the thing it describes becomes obsolete, sometimes it survives in a figurative sense while the original meaning is lost, and sometimes it simply gives way to a more popular alternative. We discover that scuttlebutt was the name of a water cask on a ship, around which sailors might gossip. The popular hat Fedora got its name from a character in a French play (Fedora Romanov, played by Sarah Bernhardt). With over a thousand curious words grouped under such headings as Food and Drink, Health and Medicine, and Entertainment and Leisure, and an index of featured words, this book is perfect for anyone intrigued with the history of the English language.

Why Is Q Always Followed By U?: Word-Perfect Answers to the Most-Asked Questions about Language

Particular Books

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

Books by Quinion, Michael

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

Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins

Port Out Starboard Home: And Other Language Myths

Why is Q Always Followed by U?: Word-Perfect Answers to the Most-Asked Questions About Language

Ologies and Isms: A Dictionary of Word Beginnings and Endings (Oxford Quick Reference)

Ologies and Isms: A Dictionary of Word Beginnings and Endings (Oxford Quick Reference)

Gallimaufry: A Hodgepodge of our Vanishing Vocabulary

Gallimaufry: A Hodge Podge of Our Vanishing Vocabulary

Gallimaufry: A Hodgepodge of Our Vanishing Vocabulary

Why Is Q Always Followed By U?: Word-Perfect Answers to the Most-Asked Questions about Language