Idiomantics
Subtitle: the weird and wonderful world of popular phrases
By: Philip Gooden and Peter Lewis
Contributors: Lewis, Peter, 1958-
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 2012
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 246
ISBN-13: 9781408157435; 9781408157404; 9781408151440; 9781283714099
Subjects: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES; Linguistics; Etymology; Language: reference & general; Idioms; Language and languages
Description: Idiomantics is a unique exploration of the world of idiomatic phrases. The very etymology of the word 'idiom' reveals what's so endlessly fascinating about the wide range of colourful phrases we use in everyday speech: their peculiarity. They're peculiar both in the sense of being particular or unique to the culture from which they originate, and in the sense of being downright odd. To cite three random examples - from American English, Dutch and Italian - what on Earth are a snow job, a monkey sandwich story, and Mr Punch's secret? Fascinating and illuminating, Idiomantics explains all ... The.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Chapter 1. Curious coves; title: Chapter 2. Pursuits and pastimes; title: Chapter 3. Corridors of power; title: Chapter 4. Gastronomic delights; title: Chapter 5. Militaria; title: Chapter 6. The daily grind; title: Chapter 7. Birds, beasts and bugs; title: Chapter 8. National identity; title: Chapter 9. World of wonder; title: Chapter 10. Matters spiritual; title: Chapter 11. Human flesh; title: Chapter 12. The long arm of the law; title: Chapter 13. Travellers' tales; title: Footnotes.