Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 224 pages
- Published by: Collins October 1, 2002
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0060513292
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0060513290
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Book Dimensions:
8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
- Weighs: 6.2 ounces
Product Description
He's as independent as a hog on ice!
Where did expressions like this come from anyway?
Now finally we'll know what "letting the cat out of the bag" or "going on a wild-goose chase" refers to. In this fun collection of more than 400 curious expressions and sayings, Dr. Funk explains the meanings that we use in everyday speech without even thinking about it. He has traced them back through the years -- in some cases centuries -- in an effort to determine their sources, to find out what the original allusions were, or at the very least, to give us his expert opinion when facts cannot be traced.
About The Author
Charles Earle Funk was editor in chief of the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary Series. He wrote several other books on word and phrase origins, including
Horsefeathers, Heavens to Betsy!, and
Thereby Hangs a Tale.
Reader Reviews
This review is from: A Hog on Ice (Harper Colophon Books) (Paperback)
When I purchased "Hog on Ice", I expected a book with hundreds of expressions along with the historical origin of each. The books does indeed have hundreds of expressions and what they mean, but the author, when describing the origin, rarely gives a definite answer. The origins frequently have phrases like, "probably came from", "could have been", "it is likely that", etc. A great book if you only want to be entertained by learning new expressions and the meaning behind some you already know. As a historical reference, however, you may want to check out Garrisons' "Why you Say It".
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