Interesting stories about curious words
£14.99
Susie Dent, Britain’s cleverest lexicographer, linguistic expert and much-loved national treasure, explores all the very best red herrings, cock and bull stories, white elephants and nine-day wonders in the English language. There are enough stories to furnish a hundred conversations in a wonderful collection for everyone who loves words.
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Join Susie Dent, lexicographer extraordinaire and Queen of Countdown‘s Dictionary Corner, on a curious and exceedingly interesting adventure through all the very best RED HERRINGS, COCK AND BULL STORIES and NINE-DAY WONDERS in the English language.
Who was SWEET FANNY ADAMS?
What’s the dramatic true story behind STEALING THUNDER?
Why is it CHANCING YOUR ARM when you take a risk?
What do bears have to do with LICKING INTO SHAPE?
Or robbers with PULLING SOMEONE’S LEG?
Why are CIRCLES VICIOUS?
And, what’s so bad about a WHITE ELEPHANT?
‘Nobody on earth knows more about the English language than Susie Dent’ Gyles Brandreth
| Dimensions | 22.2 × 13.8 cm |
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| Cover | Hardback |
| Pages | 320 |
| Language | English |
| Edition | |
| Dewey | 422 (edition:23) |
| Readership | General – Trade / Code: K |





