Idiomantics: The Weird World of Popular Phrases

Idiomantics: The Weird World of Popular Phrases by Philip Gooden. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781408151440.

Idiomantics is a unique exploration of the world of idiomatic phrases. The very etymology of the word idiom reveals whats so endlessly fascinating about the wide range of colourful phrases we use in everyday speech: their peculiarity. Theyre 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 Punchs secret? Fascinating and illuminating, Idiomantics explains all... The ideal gift for word buffs, and in fact, anyone who enjoys a good yarn, this playful book looks at 12 groups of idioms around the world, looking at subjects such as fun and games, gastronomic delights and the daily grind.