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An amusing look at cultural similarities --Will Safire, New York Times, July, 2009
'Why do we say "I'm not pulling your leg"? Or "he kicked the bucket"? I don't mean etymologically, I mean logically. Why do we use idioms? I became fascinated by that question when I discovered that Russians say "I'm not hanging noodles on your ears" when they're not pulling your leg. To us that sounds ridiculous. But let's face it, our idioms don't have a leg (pulled or not) to stand on either. They're just as nonsensical. And they're not alone...'
--The Guardian books blog, August 2009
"This light-hearted jaunt through the vagaries of language is, as they say in Mexico, certain to make you 'peel your teeth' (bring a smile to your face)."
--The Guardian, 29 August 2009
'Why do we say "I'm not pulling your leg"? Or "he kicked the bucket"? I don't mean etymologically, I mean logically. Why do we use idioms? I became fascinated by that question when I discovered that Russians say "I'm not hanging noodles on your ears" when they're not pulling your leg. To us that sounds ridiculous. But let's face it, our idioms don't have a leg (pulled or not) to stand on either. They're just as nonsensical. And they're not alone...'
--The Guardian books blog, August 2009
"This light-hearted jaunt through the vagaries of language is, as they say in Mexico, certain to make you 'peel your teeth' (bring a smile to your face)."
--The Guardian, 29 August 2009
Review
An "amusing look at cultural similarities"--Will Safire", New York Times"
"A delightful celebration of the wit, insight, and poetic genius to be found in everyday language" --Steven Pinker, Harvard University Professor and author of "The Stuff of Thought"
"A delightful celebration of the wit, insight, and poetic genius to be found in everyday language" --Steven Pinker, Harvard University Professor and author of "The Stuff of Thought"
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15 reviews
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
A funny, revealing and thoroughly enjoyable book
18 Jun 2009
Format:Paperback
I just got the book today, to give it as a gift. As I started to scan through it I found myself smiling and then laughing out aloud. Then I found myself talking aloud arguing with the book.
I am usually a pretty stable sort, but this is a very well written book and presented in a nice engaging manner that literally pulls you in.
I am enjoying this tremendously and have ordered a second copy for myself (this one is a gift and I will have to part with it).
To quote the book, this can "make the chickens laugh".
I am usually a pretty stable sort, but this is a very well written book and presented in a nice engaging manner that literally pulls you in.
I am enjoying this tremendously and have ordered a second copy for myself (this one is a gift and I will have to part with it).
To quote the book, this can "make the chickens laugh".
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
fun but...
23 Aug 2009
Format:Paperback
This was a fun, quick read (actually, more like browsing a catalog). Only problem was that I asked a number of friends who hailed from many of the nations listed in the book about the local idioms listed in the volume and often got a curious look--like, I've never heard that one myself. Maybe things got lost in translation. Anyway, I think this would be a perfect book to have on a coffee table for a party--people would browse through and shout out different ones with joy. Nice job!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
A Fun Read
19 Aug 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found this book very interesting and entertaining. The only thing that would have made it better, was if he had used all the entries in a typical sentence to aid in understanding usage.
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