Why do people "take 40 winks" and not 50...or 60, or 70? Did someone
literally "let the cat out of the bag" at one point in time? Has anyone
actually "gone on a wild goose chase"? Find out the answers to these
questions and many more in this enormous collection, comprised of four
bestselling titles: A Hog on Ice, Thereby Hangs a Tale, Heavens to Betsy!
and Horsefeathers and Other Curious Words. Dr. Funk, editor-in-chief of
the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary Series, reveals the sometimes
surprising, often amusing, and always fascinating roots of more than
2,000 vernacular words and expressions. From "kangaroo court" to "one-
horse town", from "face the music" to "hocus-pocus," it's an entertaining
linguistic journey.

Download File Size:20.37 MB

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