The Insult Dictionary: History's Best Slights, Street Talk, and Slang

by Julie Tibbott

Do you long for the days when a jerk was a “cad”? Want to tell that “swillbelly” to clean up his table manners and that grumbling “glump” to stop whining? Would you like a way of saying simpleton that’s not quite so simple—“ninnyhammer,” perhaps?

All this nastiness and more can be found in the pages of this fun reference book. With insults ranging from Roman times (lutum lenonium = filthy pimp) and Shakespearean snipes (I’m talking to you, you knotty-pated fool) to salty pirate-speak and Wild West zingers, you’re sure to find an insult for everyone, be they a helminth (a parasite in Ancient Greece) or a swinge-buckler (an Elizabethan braggart).

Chapters are organized chronologically by historical period—Ancient Attacks, Medieval Madness, Edgy Elizabethans, Victorian Venom, Jazz Age Jibes, and Cold War Cuts—and include themed sidebars focusing on Pirate Put-Downs, Hobo Huffs, and Cowboy Curses, as well as samplers for words with many different sayings per period. Fun, a little bit lewd, and incredibly informative this is a must-read for humor fans, history buffs, armchair etymologists, and the most sneaping of breedbates.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor

175 pages, Hardcover

First published April 18, 2013

Reviews

[Bob Cantrell]

Oh, if only I could remember all the good insults in this book what fun I would have. But I can't so I will continue on with my favorites. This book breaks down insult. s by time periods, which to me is very helpful in viewing the past. I taught History for many years and know that if you are teaching high schoolers they like to hear slang and insults from the past along with the treaties, political infight, and just the facts, jack. Now I had one problem with this book and that is it is too short to cover the material. There are way more insults than those found between the pages of this book, but don't let that keep you from reading and wondering how those dull people in the past could come up with such colorful language.

[Kchlemplunk]

Quite comedic in nature I must say, but it was pretty funny and learning about the words are fun it makes me want to use them in day to day conversations in people, but if I do no one will understand what I'm saying, all and all it was quite a good read, it was quite enjoyable

[My Book Addiction and More MBA]

THE INSULT DICTIONARY:History's Best Slights, Street Talk, and Slang by Julie Tibbott is an interesting non-fiction/Dictionaries & Thesauruses/Slang & Idioms.Filled with slang,street talk,and much more information. From the Ancient Greeks,to modern talk,and everything in between including the origin of phrases and sayings . What an intriguing book,filled with a ton of information and slang. You will not want to miss this interesting book. A wonderful addition to your reading library. So the next time you want to know where a slang word come from,be sure to pick up "The Insult Dictionary",you will not regret it. Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: NONE(NON-FICTION)

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Libby]

Not a terribly impressive book. The title is misleading - this is not a book of insults; it's a book of slang terms, some of which happen to be insulting. Also the author apparently did not do much research, or the editors were asleep at the wheel. "Haole" is not a greeting; as far as I know, it refers to non-Hawaiians. And "scallywag" is not a synonym for pirate. Its first recorded appearance was in 1848, long after the golden age of piracy. Some of the words were new to me, but having found other mistakes in the book, I'd not likely use the book as a reference. It's a casual book at best, only for fun.

[False]

Bleh. Fluff...and not even good fluff.