A Word In Your Shell-like: 6,000 Curious & Everyday Phrases Explained

An entertaining guide to the wonderful world of phrases--new and old, familiar and unfamiliar. Unravel the meaning, origin, and usage of 6,000 phrases--from books, films, idioms, euphemisms, and cliches to nicknames, slogans, and quotations. For example: Who was originally "sold down the river?" Why is an exact likeness "the spitting image?" Who originally coined the term "compassion fatigue?" The author should put a "feather in his cap" for compiling this delightfully informative guide--it's a must for anyone who likes to dabble in our language's rich heritage.