Humble Pie and Cold Turkey

English Expressions and Their Origins

Caroline Taggart

$26.99

Hardback

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English

Hardie Grant Books
15 December 2021

Grammar & vocabulary; Reference; Trivia & quiz question books

‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – Yorkshire Post

In this highly entertaining book, language enthusiast and Sunday Times best-selling author Caroline Taggart browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the words and phrases we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the origins of our language from their historical context. For example, did you know that:

If you rest on your laurels, you’re imitating a complacent Roman general?

If you eavesdrop, you’re likely to get wet?

If you’re taken aback, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship?

If you’re galvanized into action, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster?

From blue-blooded (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to limelight (a way of lighting Victorian theatres), passing an exam with flying colours (another image from sailing ships) to winning hands down (from horse racing), Humble Pie and Cold Turkey will answer questions you may never have thought to ask. Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble.

By: Caroline Taggart
Imprint: Hardie Grant Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 265g
ISBN: 9781789293487
ISBN 10: 1789293480
Pages: 192
Publication Date: 15 December 2021
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Caroline Taggart worked in publishing as an editor of popular non-fiction for thirty years before being asked by Michael O'Mara Books to write I Used to Know That, which became a Sunday Times bestseller. Following that she was co-author of My Grammar and I (or should that be 'Me'?), and wrote a number of other books about words and English usage. She has appeared frequently on television and on national and regional radio, talking about language, grammar and whether or not Druids Cross should have an apostrophe. Her website is carolinetaggart.co.uk and you can follow her on Twitter @citaggart.