In a Manner of Speaking: Phrases, Expressions, and Proverbs and How We Use and Misuse Them

Description

What do "the whole kit and caboodle," "the whole shebang," "the whole megillah," "the whole enchilada," "the whole nine yards," "the whole box and dice," and "the full Monty" have in common? They're all expressions that mean "the entire quantity," and they're all examples of the breadth and depth of the English-speaking world's vocabulary. From the multitude of words and phrases in daily use, the author of this delightful exploration into what we say and why we say it zeroes in on those expressions and sayings and their variations that are funny, quirky, just plain folksy, or playfully dressed up in rhyme or alliteration. Some may have become cliches that, as it's said with "tongue in cheek," should be "avoided like the plague." Others have been distorted, deemed politically incorrect, or shrouded in mystery and must bear some explanation. Here's a book for everyone who delights in the mysteries of language and the perfect gift for all the "wordies" in your life.

Colin McNairn has enjoyed a career as a professor, a practicing lawyer, an administrative law judge, and a writer, all of which has served to stimulate his interest in the deft use of language. He is the author of books on governmental immunity, freedom of information, and privacy. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.