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Balderdash and Piffle: One Sandwich Short of a Dog's Dinner
 
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Balderdash and Piffle: One Sandwich Short of a Dog's Dinner (Hardcover)

by Alex Games (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
RRP: £9.99
Price: £6.29 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Customers buy this book with I Before E (Except After C): Old-School Ways to Remember Stuff by Judy Parkinson

Balderdash and Piffle: One Sandwich Short of a Dog's Dinner + I Before E (Except After C): Old-School Ways to Remember Stuff
Price For Both: £11.29

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 240 pages
  • Publisher: BBC Books (5 April 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1846072352
  • ISBN-13: 978-1846072352
  • Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 13 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 34,349 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #15 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Linguistics > Historical & Comparative Linguistics > Etymology

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Product Description

Product Description

"Balderdash and Piffle: "One Sandwich Short of a Dogs Dinner" is a thrilling ride through the provocative, bewildering and often downright bizarre world of language and etymology. From the brash jargon of celebrity magazines to the delicacies and feints of the euphemism, author and word-sleuth Alex Games has uncovered the remarkable stories that lie behind some of our best-loved words and expressions. By grouping words into distinct themes - such as put downs and insults, the vocab of fashionistas and the lingo of dodgy dealings - "Balderdash and Piffle" looks at the English language in a fresh and revealing light. Who was the original Jack the Lad? What is the tragic story behind the expression Sweet F.A.? "Balderdash and Piffle" will show you where thugs come from, why 'barmy' once had more to do with your beer than your brain, and how a little bit of 'hanky-panky' could literally work magic. From the 'cloud-cuckoo-land' of Aristophanes to the town of Balaclava, this is a funny but rigorously researched account of English words and their origins. Drawing together sources as diverse as William Shakespeare, David Cameron and the Burnham-on-Sea Gazette, Alex Games recalls the trends, innovations and scandals that have produced some of our most familiar but least explored words and phrases. Accompanying a brand new series of the hit BBC television programme "Balderdash and Piffle" - and containing all the results of the "Worldhunt" from the first series - this entertaining book is a treasure trove for English-language lovers everywhere.


From the Publisher

The stories behind our most intriguing words and phrases
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Balderdash and Piffle: One Sandwich Short of a Dog's Dinner
78% buy the item featured on this page:
Balderdash and Piffle: One Sandwich Short of a Dog's Dinner 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£6.29
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Kick the Bucket and Swing the Cat: The Complete "Balderdash & Piffle" Collection of English Words, and Their Curious Origins 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£6.49
Balderdash and Piffle
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Balderdash and Piffle 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
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Lost in Translation: Misadventures in English
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Feast of Wordy Delights, 25 May 2007
By K. Lomax (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Such a modest little book, but ignore the self effacing title - this is a real corker, jammed full of insights into our language. Always thought provoking, informative and entertaining, the book joyfully skips between the erudite and the everyday. The section on "muffin top" had me weeping fat tears of laughter on a crowded commuter train, while the chapter on madness provides a thought provoking exploration of the knots we tie ourselves into when discussing the issue and details the surprising clinical origins of terms like idiot and moron.

Unlike other books that claim to explore word histories, Balderdash & Piffle - One Sandwich Short of a Dog's Dinner is thoroughly researched and does not rely on spurious theories or folk etymologies, the real journeys that our words have taken are fascinating enough in their own right. And like the BBC series it accompanies, the thematic layout reveals how we reveal our greatest loves, fears and embarrassments through our language we use.

Packed with hilarious cartoons that fit the book's quirky style, this book would make a delightful present but you'll want a copy for yourself too. I highly recommend.
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