About the Book

Don't be down in the dumps if you can't cut the mustard when asked the definition of certain English phrases - this down-to-earth guide is just the ticket. Let's not beat about the bush: the English language is littered with linguistic quirks, which, taken literally, seem completely nonsensical - but expert wordsmith Caroline Taggart is on the ball.
Make no bones about it, this collection contains some fascinating and remarkable stories about our best-loved and most colourful phrases. These familiar, well-worn expressions and clichés, the staples of our language, originate from the most diverse sources. From advertising to the Ancient Greeks, from the military to meteorology, this book takes us on a wonderful journey through our language's history.
So, if you're sick as a parrot, this collection will nip it in the bud; if you're a fish out of water, it will cut to the chase; and if you're in a pickle, it won't break the bank. Now that's a turn up for the books.