NIGEL REES

A fascinating and entertaining study of the phrases that permeate everyday speech, this updated edition of Nigel Rees'' popular reference book reveals the origins of the latest catchphrases as well as scores of traditional sayings and cliches. An expert on the use of language and host of BBC Radio''s Quote...Unquote, Rees uncovers the sources of over 1200 catchphrases, including perennials like "a day late and a dollar short," and "you and whose army?," and modern phrases such as "and I''m like, hello?" Rees'' exhaustive linguistic investigations trace the lineage of common catchphrases to a surprising array of cultural progenitors--from TV game shows to political slogans to Dante''s Inferno--providing readers with an illuminating glimpse into the evolution of modern speech.

" . . . Easy to navigate and illustrated with 50 dynamic black-and-white photos, Rees''s book also parses the facts behind frequently misquoted sayings . . . "Publishers Weekly. " . . . a pleasing amalgam of what keeps us watching moviesthe glamor and the grit, the fluff and the savvy. . . . attractive graphic design . . . Recommended . . . "Library Journal. " . . . an entertaining and well-organized source of cinematic verbage for the casual and professional movie fan."Boxoffice.

Nigel Rees presents a nostalgic and witty guide to wartime catchphrases, from the now ubiquitous Keep Calm and Carry On to lesser-known gems such as lions led by donkeys.Following his hugely popular survey of domestic sayings, More Tea Vicar?, Rees returns with a witty and fascinating examination of the catchphrases that saw us through wartime Britain and are still relevant in times of crisis today. Including domestic phrases of the time, propaganda, and slang developed by soldiers abroad, the book describes the provenance and development of these intriguing, quirky and sometimes crude phrases that were born out of times of conflict and have in many cases become part of our language.

Unravel the meaning, origin, and usage of over 6,000 phrases from book and film titles, idioms and cliches, to nicknames, slogans and quotations with this modern and entertaining guide to wonderful phrases by one of the worlds best-known wordsmiths. The ideal replacement or complement to that tatty old copy of Brewers Phrase and Fable most of us have about the house, A Word in Your Shell-Like is an entertaining look at both familiar and unfamiliar phrases by one of the key world authorities in English language reference. The articles also contain discussion of meaning, origin and usage. Who was originally sold down the river? Have you been told to Naff off? Find out of whom it was said he couldnt chew gum and fart at the same time, who the catcher in the rye was, and what it means to be caught between wind and water. Few other word reference books are likely to increase your store of knowledge with such fun.