Dictionary of Proverbs and their origins
Author(s): Linda Flavell
Did you know that 'if the cap fits' refers to the traditional jester's cap with bells on it - so anyone wearing such a cap could be expected to do something foolish? Or that the ancient Greeks believed that it was camels rather than elephants that never forgot? The Spanish writer Cervantes defined a proverb as 'a short sentence drawn from long experience' and Linda and Roger Flavell trace the origins of over 400 of these invaluable pieces of wisdom. The entries are interspersed with mini-essays on such diverse subjects as 'The Proverbial Cynic' and 'When there's a R in the Month'. The result is essential reading for anyone who delights in words.
Product Information
'Extremely useful for reference purposes, but written in an informal style...attractive to the browser.' REFERENCE REVIEW'A fascinating history of pithy, amusing sayings.' GOOD BOOK GUIDE
Linda Flavell has a degree in modern languages and subsequent qualifications in secondary and primary teaching. Roger, who died in December 2005, had many years' experience working for London University's Institute of Education, concerned latterly with education and international development, and with online education. The Flavells' other books for Kyle Cathie are A Dictionary of English Down the Ages, Dictionary of Word Origins and Dictionary of Idioms, which is also available in a recently revised edition.
General Fields
- :
- : Kyle Cathie
- : Kyle Cathie
- : 0.312
- : 13 March 2008
- : 198mm X 129mm
- : United Kingdom
- : books
Special Fields
- : Linda Flavell
- : Paperback
- : Revised edition
- : 398.903
- : 288
