ISBN: 9781925335873

Curious English Words and Phrases (2nd edition)

USD $16.99 Tax Included

The truth behind the expressions we use.

‘Cloud nine’, ‘at the drop of a hat’, ‘spitting image’, ‘mollycoddle’, ‘rigmarole’, ‘round robin’, ‘spill the beans’, ‘kick the bucket’, ‘balderdash’ and ‘touch wood’. There are so many curious words and phrases that we often use and yet haven’t you ever wondered why we say them, where they come from and what they mean?

Written by language expert Max Cryer, Curious Words and Phrases has all the answers behind some of the most interesting and perplexing words and expressions in the English language. Bulging with information, it’s a useful reference book and the ideal gift for anyone curious about the words and phrases we use.

SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 210 x 135 mm / 8.25 x 5.25 Inches | 432 Pages |

SKU: 9781925335873 Categories: , , , , , , ,

Max Cryer is a seasoned researcher and writer on aspects of the English language. A well-known broadcaster and entertainer, he hosts a weekly radio slot on the subject. In a long career, he has been a schoolteacher, a compere and TV host, as well as a singer in London, Las Vegas and Hollywood.

Radio New Zealand radio segment
“Wordsmith Max Cryer knows better than most about the origin of turns of phrases. He’s written and talked about the English language for many years.” Click here to listen.


 

You may also like…

The Godzone Dictionary of favourite New Zealand words and phrases (2nd Edition)

This concise A–Z dictionary, now updated in a new edition, is a quick and easy reference to understanding the words and phrases that make New Zealand English unique. Language expert Max Cryer provides helpful definitions for the various entries, and also sheds light on their origins. Slang words feature heavily, while a key feature is the large number of Māori words that have become part of the language. Popular names of sports teams are included as well as an appendix of New Zealand acronyms

SPECIFICATIONS: 9781775594000 | Paperback | 210 x 135 mm / 8.25 x 5.25 inches | 248 Pages

Preposterous Proverbs

USD $13.99 Tax Included

Why fine words butter no parsnips

From our earliest years we have heard proverbs, and many of them are repeated without much thought. In ‘Preposterous Proverbs’, Max Cryer looks at a vast array of proverbs from around the world. Proverbs on birth, food, women and love rub shoulders with others on money, animals, sin and death. He has chosen some of the most interesting and perplexing, and with his characteristic wry wit he analyses their meaning and truth. A great book to dip into.

SPECIFICATIONS: Paperback | 198 x 126 mm | 272 Pages |