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Have you ever wondered exactly where some of our more common phrases come from? Judy Parkinson sets out to give a brief definition and history of some colorful, common English sayings.
I found this book interesting and I learned a lot. For example, “Put a sock in it!” comes from the days of the old gramophones. They didn’t have volume controls, so to turn the record player down, owners would put a sock inside the bell the sound emerged from.
While I did enjoy learning the meaning behind some of these sayings, I have to say that the definitions were a bit dry. Take this definition of “shoot the moon”: “This is an expression meaning to leave without paying one’s bills or rent, or to remove swiftly one’s household goods under cover of night to avoid their seizure by a landlord or creditor.” This seemed like a good place to have a little fun or lighten the tone, but instead it felt more like a scholarly work. This is a short little book at 169 pages, so I wasn’t expecting the scholarly tone.
This is an interesting look at some of the origins of our language, and I recommend it for those curious about such things. Christmas is coming up, and I think this would make a good stocking stuffer if you have any lovers of language in your life.
Thanks to FSB Media for sending me a copy for review.
