Michael O'Mara Books Ltd Paperback English
Humble Pie and Cold Turkey
English Expressions and Their Origins
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<p><b>‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – <i>Yorkshire Post</i></b><br>______________________<br><br>The huge variety of colourful phrases contained in the English language are notoriously varied and, often, notably odd. From <b><i>blue-blooded</i></b> (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to <b><i>limelight</i></b> (a way of lighting Victorian theatres), passing an exam with <b><i>flying colours</i></b> (an image from sailing ships) to winning <b><i>hands down</i></b> (from horse racing), the fascinating expressions that make up our language are explored in <i>Humble Pie and Cold Turkey</i>.<br><br>In this highly entertaining book, language enthusiast and <i>Sunday Times</i> best-selling author Caroline Taggart browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the <b>words and phrases</b> we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the <b>origins of our language </b>from their <b>historical context</b>. For example, did you know that:<br><br>If you <i><b>rest on your laurels</b></i>, you’re imitating a complacent Roman general?<br>If you <b><i>eavesdrop</i></b>, you’re likely to get wet?<br>If you’re <i><b>taken aback</b></i>, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship?<br>If you’re <i><b>galvanized into action</b></i>, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster?<br><br><i>Humble Pie and Cold Turkey</i> will prompt you to question the downright bizarre idioms we use to express ourselves, and<b> answer questions you may never have thought to ask</b>. Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble.</p>
<p><b>‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – <i>Yorkshire Post</i></b><br>______________________<br><br>The huge variety of colourful phrases contained in the English language are notoriously varied and, often, notably odd. From <b><i>blue-blooded</i></b> (an invention of aristocratic Spaniards) to <b><i>limelight</i></b> (a way of lighting Victorian theatres), passing an exam with <b><i>flying colours</i></b> (an image from sailing ships) to winning <b><i>hands down</i></b> (from horse racing), the fascinating expressions that make up our language are explored in <i>Humble Pie and Cold Turkey</i>.<br><br>In this highly entertaining book, language enthusiast and <i>Sunday Times</i> best-selling author Caroline Taggart browses through thousands of years of history to shed light on why we use the <b>words and phrases</b> we do. Arranged by themes including food, the household, childhood, romance and more, this intriguing book looks at the <b>origins of our language </b>from their <b>historical context</b>. For example, did you know that:<br><br>If you <i><b>rest on your laurels</b></i>, you’re imitating a complacent Roman general?<br>If you <b><i>eavesdrop</i></b>, you’re likely to get wet?<br>If you’re <i><b>taken aback</b></i>, you should, strictly speaking, be a sailing ship?<br>If you’re <i><b>galvanized into action</b></i>, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster?<br><br><i>Humble Pie and Cold Turkey</i> will prompt you to question the downright bizarre idioms we use to express ourselves, and<b> answer questions you may never have thought to ask</b>. Including why turkeys need to be cold and how pies came to be humble.</p>