Blimey! The rude truth behind those euphemisms We live in a world of euphemism. Are you ill, or just a little under the weather? Are you an oldie, or a pensioner, or a senior citizen? Are you unemployed, or between jobs, or (like a couple of friends of mine) currently freelancing as a consultant? Everywhere …
Sunday Guardian Snippets
Sunday Guardian snippets: on euphemisms . . . Ralph Keyes’ book Unmentionables (originally published as Euphemania and now subtitled “From Family Jewels to Friendly Fire – What We Say Instead of What We Mean”) is an entertaining look at the history of euphemistic language, ranging from ribald Shakespearean lines (Iago to Desdemona’s distraught father: “Your …
Summer Reading: from OED to OMG
Hartford Courant By Rob Kyff Gen X’ers with iPod buds stuck into their ears might puzzle over the meaning of terms derived from phonograph records: “flip side,” “like a broken record” and “in the groove.” Ralph Keyes is here to help with “I Love It When You Talk Retro” (St. Martin’s, $25.95), which describes the …
PERFECT FOR THE TARGET AUDIENCE
From Amazon.com 4 Stars Todd Hagopian “CEO of the Hagopian Institute (Michigan) If you are a quote enthusiast who loves to know the history behind the quotes, this is a very good book for you. I am a purist, and just enjoy reading great quotes and having a source to attribute them to, so the …
Regina's Books for All Ages
Regina Sunderland’s book reviews, book announcements, book introductions and book discussion club. It’s all about books! April 19, 2010 Buzz up! What a find at my local Library. I am one of those goofy people who simply love to use retro phrases and enjoy discovering where they come from. I Love It When You Talk …
YOU DON'T SAY
John E. McIntyre Talk retro to me May 9, 2009 This one is for the Young People, if any such lurk among my readers. Are you mystified by the peculiar turns of speech when Baby Boomers talk? Do you feel ashamed that at your unfamiliarity with the TV series of the late 1950s and early …