It's raining cats and dogs, and other beastly expressions
By: Christine Ammer ; drawings by Cathy Bobak.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Paragon House Publishers
Published: 1989
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 247
Subjects: English language  -- Etymology; English language  -- Terms and phrases; Animals -- Folklore; Figures of speech; Zoology  -- Nomenclature (Popular)
Description: Do you have an "eagle-eye" for a bargain? Have you ever been "hounded" by a "loan-shark" or hustled by a "pool-shark"? Have you been the victim of a "stool-pigeon" or a "rat", or the "scapegoat" for some "foxy" character's misdeeds? Expressions like these lend color and character to our everyday conversation. Many of them are so familiar that we rarely pause to wonder how or when they came into use in the language. But their origins are fascinating to discover and fun to share.
Notes: Includes index.