Port Out, Starboard Home: The Fascinating Stories We Tell About the words We Use

Name: Port Out, Starboard Home: The Fascinating Stories We Tell About the words We Use
Brand: Penguin
SKU: 9780141012230-G
Price: 38.28 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

By Michael Quinion

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Description

Can it really be true that 'golf' stands for 'Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden'? Or that 'rule of thumb' comes from an archaic legal principle that a man may chastise his wife but only with a rod no thicker than his thumb?
These and hundreds of other stories are commonly told and retold whenever people meet. They grow up in part because expressions are often genuinely mysterious. Why for example are satisfying meals 'square' rather than any other shape? And how did anyone ever come up with the idea that if you're competent at something you can 'cut the mustard'?
Michael Quinion here retells many of the more bizarre tales and explains their real origins where they're known. This is a fascinating treasure-trove of fiction and fact for anyone interested in language.

Product details

Binding:: Paperback
Edition:: 1
Number of Pages:: 304
Release Date:: 2005-09-01
Publication Date:: 2005-09-01
Publisher:: Penguin
Languages:: Published: English, Original: English
ISBN10:: 0141012234
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:: [email protected]
Weight:: 176 g
Height:: 18.1 cm
Width:: 11.1 cm
Thickness:: 3.5 cm

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