A Hog on Ice & Other Curious Expressions: The Origin & Development of the Pungent & Colorful Phrases We All Use

Funk, Charles Earle

ISBN 10: 0060912596 / ISBN 13: 9780060912598

Published by Harper Colophon Books, 1997

About this Item

Standard used condition. Reading copy or better.

Seller Inventory # 268561

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Hog on Ice & Other Curious Expressions: The Origin & Development of the Pungent & Colorful Phrases We All Use
• Publisher: Harper Colophon Books
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060912596
• ISBN 13: 9780060912598
• Binding: Trade Paperback
• Condition: Good+
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Book Type: Used Book

About this title

Synopsis

He's as independent as a hog on ice!Where did expressions like this come from anyway?Now finally we'll know what "letting the cat out of the bag" or "going on a wild-goose chase" refers to. In this fun collection of more than 400 curious expressions and sayings, Dr. Funk explains the meanings that we use in everyday speech without even thinking about it. He has traced them back through the years -- in some cases centuries -- in an effort to determine their sources, to find out what the original allusions were, or at the very least, to give us his expert opinion when facts cannot be traced.

About the Author

Charles Earle Funk was editor in chief of the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary Series. He wrote several other books on word and phrase origins, including Horsefeathers, Heavens to Betsy!, and Thereby Hangs a Tale.