Humble Pie and Cold Turkey : English Expressions and Their Origins

An entertaining and informative look at thousands of years of history to shed light on the words and phrases we use most often – and where they came from.

<p><b>‘Caroline Taggart has carved out a niche for herself in user-friendly, wittily written factual books.’ – <i>Yorkshire Post</i></b><br><b><i>______________________<br></i></b><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 <b><i>rest on your laurels</i></b>, 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 <b><i>galvanized into action</i></b>, you’re behaving like Frankenstein’s monster?<br><br>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> (another image from sailing ships) to winning <i><b>hands down</b></i> (from horse racing), <i>Humble Pie and Cold Turkey</i> will <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>