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The Origins of Words and Phrases (Readers Digest)
The Origins of Words and Phrases - Readers Digest Did you know the phrase 'naughty but nice' was coined by novelist Salman Rushdie as an advertising slogan to sell cakes? Or that to the Anglo-Saxons a 'gossip' was a godparent? Who was the first to be sidetracked by a 'red herring'? Which writer gave us 'the last straw'?"The Origins of Words and Phrases" will reveal the secrets, scandals and sur... more »prises behind the words you use every day. Hear the stories and meet the personalities that have helped shape the English language from William Shakespeare and Lord Byron, to Rudyard Kipling and Salmon Rushdie.Produced in association with Oxford University Press, the world-renowned word experts, this indispensable reference is perfect for anybody who is curious about the way we talk today.« less