Product Description

This brand new edition celebrating 20 years of R. W. Holder's popular and successful dictionary of euphemisms is packed full of traditional favourites, such as 'Dutch uncle' or 'push up the daisies', as well as euphemisms from the contemporary world such as 'restructuring', 'coffee-housing', 'extrajudicial killing'. Definitions include examples from real authors, along with entertaining explanations of their origins. To prove that the use of euphemisms is not just a British speciality, there is widespread coverage of American euphemisms, too: for example, 'English' (pertaining to sexual deviance) and 'watermelon' (an indication of pregnancy). The A-Z organization of the text is complemented by a thematic index with short introductory articles on fruitful areas of euphemistic language such as business, sex, death, and the human body. This book remains the most lively and authoritative guide to the language of evasion, hypocrisy, prudery, and deceit.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75130 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Writing Magazine
"The Oxford Dictionary of Euphemisms is a gold mine for anyone who enjoys words"

Review
The Oxford Dictionary of Euphemisms is a gold mine for anyone who enjoys words (Writing Magazine )

About the Author
Bob Holder is the director of numerous companies, speaks several languages, and travels widely. He is also the author of Thinking About Management (Warner, 1994).

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
I have long been fascinated with the origins of phrases and different usage of our rich language. In this book I anticipated an informative but amusing tour of some of the unexplained oddities of usage as well as a few more useful expressions for use before ones maiden aunt. However in reality there is little humour, many of the entries appear incomplete and the use of profanities seems to be more intended to shock than illuminate, especially as most have a correct term associated with them which is not a euphemism but proper english.
I found the tone at best pedantic and at worst patronising. This book will go straight to the 2nd hand book shelf in our local charity store - 2 weeks after purchase.