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 · 80 ratings  · 12 reviews

Start your review of 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions: From White Elephants to Song & Dance

Dec 27, 2009 Ana Mardoll rated it really liked it

2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings, & Expressions / 0-88365-845-3

This book is fun for both reading from cover-to-cover and skimming as "bathroom material". The expressions are explained in plain, straightforward descriptions, with the author engagingly outlining the origins and usage of each unusual word or phrase.

I didn't recognize all of the phrases in this huge tome - some of them seem a little old, out-dated, or perhaps just not native to my region, like "hog on ice"! - but many of the word

2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings, & Expressions / 0-88365-845-3

This book is fun for both reading from cover-to-cover and skimming as "bathroom material". The expressions are explained in plain, straightforward descriptions, with the author engagingly outlining the origins and usage of each unusual word or phrase.

I didn't recognize all of the phrases in this huge tome - some of them seem a little old, out-dated, or perhaps just not native to my region, like "hog on ice"! - but many of the words and phrases are so familiar that I was startled to realize that I'd never even bothered to wonder where they had come from before now. "Juggernaut" would be a good example: would you like to know where that word came from? Mr. Funk is here to save the day!

I love this book as a great resource for seeing the evolution of common words and terms. While most of this can probably be found online nowadays, you're unlikely to find them all compiled together in such an easily browsed source. I will admit that this probably isn't a cover-to-cover read, but it is useful for looking up terms and fun for browsing on a lazy afternoon.

~ Ana Mardoll

...more

A great reference of many great sayings and expressions that make you scratch your head. Each saying/expression gets its own little paragraph of explanation and very short history, if there is any to be had. I love words and sayings and language in general and this lends itself to all three.

On a completely different note, I would love it if someone would collect the sayings that have come out of the American South and put it in a book like this. Is there already one out there? Anyone?

Compiles four previously-published books in one volume, covering the origins of many, many different words, expressions, idioms, and the like. Entertaining; rambling and old-fashionedly antiquarian in many ways. Funk makes no attempt to present his information systematically, and doesn't provide any synthesis or analysis- it's just a mass of arbitrarily-ordered entries documenting the origins of this or that word or expression. This makes for very, very good light reading material, but for a pun Compiles four previously-published books in one volume, covering the origins of many, many different words, expressions, idioms, and the like. Entertaining; rambling and old-fashionedly antiquarian in many ways. Funk makes no attempt to present his information systematically, and doesn't provide any synthesis or analysis- it's just a mass of arbitrarily-ordered entries documenting the origins of this or that word or expression. This makes for very, very good light reading material, but for a punishing experience if one attempts to read it cover to cover. Funk's approach is also haphazard, and he sometimes presents incorrect derivations, having been persuaded by a dubious source- eg claiming confidently that the word "ramshackle" comes from an Icelandic word (possibly a cognate) rather than the better-documented modern derivation from the Middle English "ransaken" (cognate with "ransack"). Enjoy the storytelling mode and the cute illustrations, but don't trust any derivations from this book unless you can verify them elsewhere. ...more

Finished this book in only 11 months. It is actually a compilation of four books, the last of which was completed posthumously by the author's son.

The first two books delve into a variety of words, and Funk gives not just the etymology and usage but also adds humor to the explanation, making for good reading.

The third book is more about sayings rather than individual words, which provided for a nice change of pace in an otherwise lengthy tome.

The final book seems to contain the most words whos

Finished this book in only 11 months. It is actually a compilation of four books, the last of which was completed posthumously by the author's son.

The first two books delve into a variety of words, and Funk gives not just the etymology and usage but also adds humor to the explanation, making for good reading.

The third book is more about sayings rather than individual words, which provided for a nice change of pace in an otherwise lengthy tome.

The final book seems to contain the most words whose origins are unknown, and in my opinion the most obsolete words, making for a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion.

But it will remain in my library as a good resource not only for words but for expressions.

A good read.

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Aug 28, 2008 Sam rated it it was amazing

Charles Funk is the KING of weird, antiquated expressions. This is the PERFECT reference book if you're curious about that word your strange uncle keeps saying. I owned each of his books separately, but when I found this, I sold all the Funk.

This volume compiles the following Charles Funk books:

A Hog On Ice
Thereby Hangs A Tale
Heavens to Betsy
&
Horsefeathers

I probably flip through this thing up once a day while writing copy for Periscope.

Charles Funk is the KING of weird, antiquated expressions. This is the PERFECT reference book if you're curious about that word your strange uncle keeps saying. I owned each of his books separately, but when I found this, I sold all the Funk.

This volume compiles the following Charles Funk books:

A Hog On Ice
Thereby Hangs A Tale
Heavens to Betsy
&
Horsefeathers

I probably flip through this thing up once a day while writing copy for Periscope.

...more

Jan 29, 2013 Robert rated it it was amazing

I love this book. In growing up I have heard more expressions from Aunt's and Uncles and parents from my Dutch decedents such that I needed a book like this to keep me sane. It's title says it all. It will satisfy the curious very well. If he doesn't know, he tells you right off. It's way more than a dictionary. It is fascinating. Good for the kids education too. I love this book. In growing up I have heard more expressions from Aunt's and Uncles and parents from my Dutch decedents such that I needed a book like this to keep me sane. It's title says it all. It will satisfy the curious very well. If he doesn't know, he tells you right off. It's way more than a dictionary. It is fascinating. Good for the kids education too. ...more

Etymology as an art form.

Must have next to your dictionary...

Heavens to Betsy and Other Curious Sayings by Charles Earle (editor) Funk (1972)

Aug 16, 2012 Andrew rated it liked it

Some neat little info bits on word origins and phrases. Not something you'd sit down and read cover to cover, but interesting nonetheless. Some neat little info bits on word origins and phrases. Not something you'd sit down and read cover to cover, but interesting nonetheless. ...more

Charles Earle Funk (1881–1957) was an American lexicographer.[1][2][3] He was a member of the Funk family who owned the publisher Funk & Wagnalls; Dr. Isaac Funk was his uncle.[4]

Funk wrote several etymological dictionaries, including Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins, A Hog On Ice & Other Curious Expressions, Heavens To Betsy & Other Curious Expressions, Horsefeathers and Othe

Charles Earle Funk (1881–1957) was an American lexicographer.[1][2][3] He was a member of the Funk family who owned the publisher Funk & Wagnalls; Dr. Isaac Funk was his uncle.[4]

Funk wrote several etymological dictionaries, including Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins, A Hog On Ice & Other Curious Expressions, Heavens To Betsy & Other Curious Expressions, Horsefeathers and Other Curious Words, and 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions: From White Elephants to Song & Dance.

...more

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