The Complete Idiot's Guide to Weird Word Origins

Over 500 Strange Stories of the World’s Oddest Words and Phrases

Ebook
0"W x 0"H x 0"D  
On sale Aug 05, 2008 | 336 Pages | 978-1-101-21718-4
Get ready to chew the fat.

This engaging, humorous new book explains the not-so-common origins of such commonly used phrases as “apple-pie order,” “chew the fat,” and “hat trick.” Presented in a fun, easy-to-read style, it provides entertaining insight on metaphorical phrases, weird words, and strange expressions and takes readers on a journey through the bizarre and eccentric origins that make up our everyday speech.

• Word books have gained in popularity not just with students and linguaphiles, but with a general population interested in the fascinating development of our language.
• Contains back stories for 500 intriguing words and phrases.
• Fun to flip through and also fun to read cover to cover.
PAUL McFEDRIES has worked with (yelled at, and kicked) computers since 1975, yet still manages to keep his sanity intact. The author of more than three dozen computer books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Windows 98, The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Windows Me, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Windows 2000 Professional, Paul’s titles have sold over two million copies worldwide. View titles by Paul McFedries

About

Get ready to chew the fat.

This engaging, humorous new book explains the not-so-common origins of such commonly used phrases as “apple-pie order,” “chew the fat,” and “hat trick.” Presented in a fun, easy-to-read style, it provides entertaining insight on metaphorical phrases, weird words, and strange expressions and takes readers on a journey through the bizarre and eccentric origins that make up our everyday speech.

• Word books have gained in popularity not just with students and linguaphiles, but with a general population interested in the fascinating development of our language.
• Contains back stories for 500 intriguing words and phrases.
• Fun to flip through and also fun to read cover to cover.

Author

PAUL McFEDRIES has worked with (yelled at, and kicked) computers since 1975, yet still manages to keep his sanity intact. The author of more than three dozen computer books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Windows 98, The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Windows Me, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Windows 2000 Professional, Paul’s titles have sold over two million copies worldwide. View titles by Paul McFedries

Books for Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Every May we celebrate the rich history and culture of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Browse a curated selection of fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators that we think your students will love. Find our collections of titles here: Middle School High School

Read more

PRH Education High School Collections

All reading communities should contain protected time for the sake of reading. Independent reading practices emphasize the process of making meaning through reading, not an end product. The school culture (teachers, administration, etc.) should affirm this daily practice time as inherently important instructional time for all readers. (NCTE, 2019)   The Penguin Random House High

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more

PRH Education Classroom Libraries

“Books are a students’ passport to entering and actively participating in a global society with the empathy, compassion, and knowledge it takes to become the problem solvers the world needs.” –Laura Robb   Research shows that reading and literacy directly impacts students’ academic success and personal growth. To help promote the importance of daily independent

Read more