Drek!: The Real Yiddish Your Bubbe Never Taught You

by Yetta Emmes, Kim Wilson Brandt (Illustrator)

One doesn't have to be Jewish to recognize the words that have made their way into every fold of popular Chutzpah, Mensch, Tokhes, Mishmash, Nudge, Shtick, Schmaltzy, Schlep, Icky, and so on. Then there are phrases whose meaning and syntax are borrowed from "bite your tongue", "drop dead", "enough already", and "excuse the expression". This hilarious, concise guide includes chapters on the Basic Descriptions of People (the good, the bad, the ugly, and the goofy), the Fine Art of Cursing, Juicy Words and Phrases, Exclamations and Exasperations, and the Fine Art of Blessing.

Genres: Language, Judaism

112 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

Reviews

[Melvin Marsh]

Funny enough, most Yiddish language books are. I did think the examples (usually versions of old Jewish jokes) for some of the words made this a little better than many of the rest. All of the words are in transliteration with some emphasis notes added. Mostly it functions as an entertaining dictionary which is what I assume they are going for. I wish one of these books would also come with a CD so one could hear the phrases.

[Larry-bob Roberts]

"Goyisher nokhes"-- Pleasure from doing something traditionally un-Jewish, like hang gliding, or auto racing, or entering a beer drinking contest.

[Ilana Waters]

Pretty much a compendium of all the words my grandparents used to mutter under their breath. ;-) Also teaches you a few things about Jewish culture in general. A snarky, fun book.