March Hares and Monkeys' Uncles : Origins of the Words and Phrases We Use Every Day

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9781843581529
• ISBN10: 1843581523
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2005-09-01
• Publisher: John Blake

Summary

From the publishers of the Number 1 bestseller Red Herrings and Whitelephants Why is a March hare mad? Why do we sometimes call ourselves aonkey's uncle? Why do cricketers who don't score anything get out for a duck?ho was Gordon Bennett? Whilst we might choose our words carefully, wearely think about the origins behind the many phrases, place names andxpressions we use everyday. Yet, behind these words lies a fascinating story,teeped in the weird and wonderful history and traditions of everyday life.rom names of streets and public houses, to the names of countries, seas andceans, this book answers the questions you've always had about the languagee all use. So if it's all Greek to you and seems like hocus pocus, forete's sake don't be left on tenterhooks, have a gander at this idiosyncraticome. Make no bones about it - it's the bee's knees!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	xii
Food and Drink	1	(22)
Names	23	(16)
Military	39	(12)
Nautical Terms	51	(8)
Animal Magic	59	(14)
Ancient Times	73	(14)
Sport and Games	87	(16)
Places	103	(14)
Sartorial Matters	117	(14)
Law and (dis)Order	131	(20)
Across the Pond	151	(18)
False Friends	169	(14)
Lost in Translation	183	(14)
Arts and Entertainment	197	(16)
Religion	213	(10)
At Work	223	(8)
And Finally ...	231	(22)
Index to phrases	253