Idiomantics: The Weird and Wonderful World of Popular Phrases

by Peter Lewis and Philip Gooden

Idiomantics is a unique exploration of the world of idiomatic phrases. The very etymology of the word 'idiom' reveals what's so endlessly fascinating about the wide range of colourful phrases we use in everyday speech: their peculiarity. They're peculiar both in the sense of being particular or unique to the culture from which they originate, and in the sense of being downright odd. 

To cite three random examples - from American English, Dutch and Italian - what on Earth are a snow job, a monkey sandwich story, and Mr Punch's secret? Fascinating and illuminating, Idiomantics explains all...

The ideal gift for word buffs and in fact, anyone who enjoys a good yarn, this playful book looks at 12 groups of idioms around the world, looking at subjects such as fun and games, gastronomic delights and the daily grind.

• ISBN13: 9781408151440
• Publish Date: 1 September 2012
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: A & C Black
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 256
• Language: English

Reviews

[MurderByDeath]

If you're at all interested in those phrases every language has that don't translate exactly, like "the buck stops here" or one of my personal favourites: "as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs" this might be a book you'd enjoy.  It's a glossary, of sorts, categorising different idioms of the world - subjectively chosen by the authors - by varying subjects: food, national identity, animals, etc.  Each entry is translated to English, explained and a brief history of its origins discussed, if the origins are known.

A great book to pick up periodically, or used as a reference.