Bold as brass, cold feet, cock and bull, off the cuff, red herrings and white elephants. We use these phrases every day and yet have only the vaguest idea of where many of them come from. The origins of hundreds of common phrases are explained in this irreverent journey through the most fascinating and richest regions of the English language. Once you've read one, you'll be diving back in to look up all the others. Red Herrings is full of amazing definitions that take us all over the world, including military traditions and famous people who lent their names to describe familiar situations. From the drop of a hat to the bitter end - you'll never speak English in the same way again.
Red Herrings & White Elephants - The Origins of the Phras...
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About the Author
Albert Jack is a writer and researcher in pop culture whose favourite phrase is 'doolally'. He is 39 years old and has two children.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Maltravers
Format:Hardcover
Albert Jack's books have been unfavourably compared with Michael Quinion's 'Port Out, Starboard Home'. I have books by both authors. Jack's are well thumbed "bog books" - perfect for passing the time in the lav. Quinion's lies largely unread in a cupboard.
Quinion's is almost certainly the more accurate and learned. But it's so dull. His approach tends to be to dismiss the wonderful folk tales around words and phrases in a very superior way before confessing he doesn't really have a better explanation.
Jack doesn't let the facts get in the way of a good tale and he presents a much more entertaining read.
The choice is simple - if you want a few funny tall tales to entertain a group of mates in the pub, buy Jack. If you want to be the lonely pedant in the corner muttering "well that's not strictly accurate" get a copy of Quinion.
Quinion's is almost certainly the more accurate and learned. But it's so dull. His approach tends to be to dismiss the wonderful folk tales around words and phrases in a very superior way before confessing he doesn't really have a better explanation.
Jack doesn't let the facts get in the way of a good tale and he presents a much more entertaining read.
The choice is simple - if you want a few funny tall tales to entertain a group of mates in the pub, buy Jack. If you want to be the lonely pedant in the corner muttering "well that's not strictly accurate" get a copy of Quinion.
118 of 131 people found the following review helpful
By Louise Dore
Format:Hardcover
I had a flick through this the other day and in those few seconds I spotted two entries which simply repeated folk etymologies have been discredited in other texts. This is the linguistic equivalent of publishing a book full of urban legends as true tales!
By the author's own admission this book was put together simply to cash in on the Christmas/casual purchase market, and it shows in its sloppy research. If you, or your gift-recipient, are genuinely interested in the history of words and phrases, I would suggest Michael Quinion's far superior 'Port Out, Starboard Home'. It may not be piled high by the tills in your local bookshop, but you'll be well rewarded for seeking it out.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought one of these books as a present for my brother,however I thumbed it so much before wrapping it that I didn't give it to him in the end. I only meant to have a quick peep but ended up taking it to read in bed over the next few weeks as I found it so very interesting.
As the title suggests it has the origins of all those well known sayings and you will find yourself saying out loud "oh wow, that's where that comes from". If you like things that are a little different you will really enjoy this book.
We keep it in the lounge and the amount of guests that pick it up and can't put it down is quite funny.
An absolute must have!
As the title suggests it has the origins of all those well known sayings and you will find yourself saying out loud "oh wow, that's where that comes from". If you like things that are a little different you will really enjoy this book.
We keep it in the lounge and the amount of guests that pick it up and can't put it down is quite funny.
An absolute must have!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really readable book
Bought for a German English-speaking relative, to help explain the various phrases and sayings of English - but when you start to read it, it is fascinating for any English... Read more
Published 2 months ago by I. Hume
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant book
The title of book says it all really. If you ever want to know where certain 'sayings' come from, most of the answers will be in this book.
Published 4 months ago by William Middleton
2.0 out of 5 stars
Fun read, but it's full of urban myths
On the face of it this is a christmas stocking-filler special.. it seems a good book and when you start reading it's great but it's not a book that's easy to read cover to cover. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Darren Simons
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great coffee table book
The perfect book to pick up once or twice a day and read the origins of a couple of daily sayings.
It's interesting and educational, entertaining and good to share with... Read more
It's interesting and educational, entertaining and good to share with... Read more
Published 13 months ago by MP38
4.0 out of 5 stars
dipping in to time and again in the future
Ok first off this is hard work to read in one go - there are multiple entries giving you the suggested back ground to many well used idioms - now be warned this was written by a... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Lord Anon
4.0 out of 5 stars
How our language has built up
I am very interested in the origin of names, places and words and particularly how they relate to Maritime history so when I saw this book, which was some time ago, it appealed to... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Martin Bushnell
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is really nice.
All what I can say, personally, it is very interesting easy to ready and it enhanced my knowledge and understanding of the British idioms.
Strongly recommended.
Strongly recommended.
Published on 28 Dec 2010 by Khalid
5.0 out of 5 stars
Red Herrings
I found the book Red Herrings and white elephants very entertaining, good to know where a lot of "saying" come from.
I had bought the book for my husband... Read more
I had bought the book for my husband... Read more
Published on 21 May 2009 by Tweetee Pie
1.0 out of 5 stars
Poor
I cannot believe this was commited to print. Rolls out the usual and false definition of 'brass monkey'. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2008 by Mr. D. H. Woolford
3.0 out of 5 stars
Amusing read
Quite a fun read overall. Some of the research is lacking, for example about Nero Playing His Fiddle While Rome Burned. Read more
Published on 14 July 2007 by Geoffrey Webb
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