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Author Taggart, Caroline, 1954- author.

Title Humble pie and cold turkey : English expressions and their origins / Caroline Taggart.

Publication Info. London : Michael O'Mara Books Limited, 2021.
©2021
Bookmark link: https://library.naperville-lib.org:444/record=b2167235~S1
Location Call No. Status
 95th Street Adult Nonfiction  428 TAG    AVAILABLE
 Naper Blvd. Adult Nonfiction  428 TAG    AVAILABLE
 Nichols Adult Nonfiction  428 TAG    AVAILABLE
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Description 192 pages ; 21 cm
Summary The author of this book browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the words and phrases we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the origins of our language from their historical context. For example, did you know that: If you rest on your laurels , you're imitating a complacent Roman general? If you eavesdrop, you're likely to get wet? If you're taken aback, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship? If you're galvanized into action, you're behaving like Frankenstein's monster? From blue-blooded (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to limelight (a way of lighting Victorian theaters), passing an exam with flying colors (another image from sailing ships) to winning hands down (from horse racing), this book will answer questions you may never have thought to ask . Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble!
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index.
Subject English language -- Idioms.
English language -- History.
ISBN 9781789293487 (hardback)
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