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March Hares and Monkeys' Uncles
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| List Price: | £9.99 |
| Price: | £6.49 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery on orders over £15. Details |
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk
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Average customer review:
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #13459 in Books
- Published on: 2005-09-01
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 258 pages
Editorial Reviews
Synopsis
From the publishers of the Number 1 bestseller Red Herrings and White Elephants Why is a March hare mad? Why do we sometimes call ourselves a monkey's uncle? Why do cricketers who don't score anything get out for a duck? Who was Gordon Bennett? Whilst we might choose our words carefully, we rarely think about the origins behind the many phrases, place names and expressions we use everyday. Yet, behind these words lies a fascinating story, steeped in the weird and wonderful history and traditions of everyday life. From names of streets and public houses, to the names of countries, seas and oceans, this book answers the questions you've always had about the language we all use. So if it's all Greek to you and seems like hocus pocus, for Pete's sake don't be left on tenterhooks, have a gander at this idiosyncratic tome. Make no bones about it - it's the bee's knees!
Customer Reviews
Don't bother
If you really are interested in the origin of phrases, you would do better to have a look at one of the many websites on this subject.
If you are unable to work out for yourself that the phrase "Mission Impossible" comes from the TV series of the same name, then this is the book for you.
Other phrases are not particularly well-researched and the author seems to have plumped for the obvious meanings rather than looked at the origins in any depth.
I have given the book one star for it's presentation - nice cover, but don't judge the book by it. (Can anyone tell me the origin of that phrase - it's so obvious I'm suprised it's not in Mr. Oliver's book).
Disappointing
This book is badly named. Its subtitle is 'Origins of the words and phrases we use every day' - not strictly true. I started reading this last night and most of the time it tells you what the phrases/words mean and not the origin of them. It is quite interesting though but would be very useful if it told you the whole story
