I Love it When You Talk Retro: Hoochie Coochie, Double Whammy, Drop a Dime, and the Forgotten Origins of American Speech

by Ralph Keyes

An entertaining and informative book about the fashion and fads of language.

Today's 18-year-olds may not know who Mrs. Robinson is, where the term “stuck in a groove” comes from, why 1984 was a year unlike any other, how big a bread box is, how to get to Peyton Place, or what the term Watergate refers to. I Love It When You Talk Retro discusses these verbal fossils that remain embedded in our national conversation long after the topic they refer to has galloped off into the sunset. That could be a person (Mrs. Robinson), product (Edsel), past bestseller (Catch-22), radio or TV show (Gangbusters), comic strip (Alphonse and Gaston), or advertisement (Where's the beef?) long forgotten. Such retroterms are words or phrases in current use whose origins lie in our past. Ralph Keyes takes us on an illuminating and engaging tour through the phenomenon that is Retrotalk—a journey, oftentimes along the timelines of American history and the faultlines of culture, that will add to the word-lover's store of trivia and obscure references. "The phrase "drinking the Kool-Aid" is a mystery to young people today, as is "45rpm." Even older folks don't know the origins of "raked over the coals" and "cut to the chase." Keyes (The Quote Verifier) uses his skill as a sleuth of sources to track what he calls "retrotalk": "a slippery slope of puzzling allusions to past phenomena." He surveys the origins of "verbal fossils" from commercials (Kodak moment), jurisprudence (Twinkie defense), movies (pod people), cartoons (Caspar Milquetoast) and literature (brave new world). Some pop permutations percolated over decades: Radio's Take It or Leave It spawned a catch phrase so popular the program was retitled The $64 Question and later returned as TV's The $64,000 Question. Keyes's own book Is There Life After High School? became both a Broadway musical and a catch phrase. Some entries are self-evident or have speculative origins, but Keyes's nonacademic style and probing research make this both an entertaining read and a valuable reference work." —Publishers Weekly

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, History, Reference, Linguistics, Pop Culture, Humor

320 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2009

About the author

Ralph Keyes is an American author. His 16 books include Is There Life After High School?, The Courage to Write, and The Post-Truth Era. That 2004 book illustrated Keyes's anticipation of social trends in his writing.

Keyes's books have dealt with topics in popular culture such as risk-taking, time pressure, loneliness, honesty, and human height. More recently he has turned to language: researching quotations, words, and expressions. "Nice Guys Finish Seventh" and The Quote Verifier explore the actual sources of familiar quotations. I Love It When You Talk Retro is about common words and phrases that are based on past events. His most recent book is Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms. (The British edition is titled Unmentionables: From Family Jewels to Friendly Fire, What We Say Instead of What We Mean.)

Keyes has also written numerous articles for publications ranging from GQ to Good Housekeeping. An article he co-authored in 2002 won the McKinsey Award for Best Article of the Year in The Harvard Business Review.

Keyes is a frequent guest on NPR shows such as All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation, and On the Media; and has appeared on The Tonight Show, 20/20, and The Oprah Winfrey Show on television. He also speaks to professional, corporate and educational groups.

After graduating from Antioch College in 1967, Keyes did graduate work at the London School of Economics and Political Science. From 1968 to 1970 he worked as an assistant to Bill Moyers, then the publisher of Long Island's Newsday. For the following decade he was a Fellow of the Center for Studies of the Person in La Jolla, California, then did freelance writing and speaking in the Philadelphia area.

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an entertaining exploration of the origins of common words and phrases which contain allusions to cultural phenomena that may already be unknown to people under thirty--e.g., Judge Crater, kee-mo-sabee, got some 'splaining to do,etc.-- and illuminating their connotations.

I knew a lot of this stuff already, but still learned a lot. I bet you will too.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have kind of a love-hate relationship with this book.

In the former case, I love the book because it collects so many sayings into one handy location. As I was reading it, I would ask my wife, "Have you heard of this one...?" - this generated a lot of talk between us about why she knew some that I didn't and I knew some that she didn't. For instance, I was surprised that she didn't know what 'snake oil' was; she was surprised that I had never heard of Lizzie Borden. In both cases (and numerous others), we talked for quite a while about our heretofore separate experiences. As the author points out in the intro, "We're all familiar with some allusions but not with others" (5); when I started the book off on this note, I thought I would know most of the ones that locals do...I was wrong. This book is a broad education in this sense.

Which leads to my two chief complaints about this book. The first is this: The author clearly, unabashedly wears his opinions on his sleeve. For instance, when telling the reader what pulp fiction is, he states "This phrase was expropriated by director Quentin Tarantino as the title of an OVER-RATED 1994 movie" (257). Clearly Keyes doesn't have a taste for Tarantino's now-classic movie. I, for one, think that the movie was ingenious...In other words, if you can stand this sort of aside from time-to-time, you'll still get something out of this book. Along the same lines, the author also self-edited from time to time: When describing SNAFU for the reader, he declines to tell what it actually means, instead noting only that it was "bowdlerized to 'situation normal, all fouled up' [and yes, I understand that it isn't a stretch to reach the actual meaning, but still...it's one word, please include it] (258).If you don't want to listen to the author tell you what he thinks about whatever random subject he touches upon, look elsewhere. Of the two quibbles I had, this is the minor one.

The major problem I had with the book is in finding that some of his information is wrong. For instance, the author notes that 'saved by the bell' is a term from boxing that signals the end of a round (89). Yes…and no. According to another well-known genesis for this term, ‘saved by the bell’ comes from the fact that in certain Occidental places dead bodies were buried with a finger tied to a bell that was on the surface. The purpose of the bell was to ring if the body were not quite dead yet…This was because there was a common belief that sometimes people ‘died’ but didn’t quite completely die – they merely went into a catatonic state which medicine wasn’t subtle enough to detect. Once they roused from this state, the dead may find themselves buried alive. Thus, ‘saved by the bell’ indicated ringing this bell in order to be unearthed. Another such error that I found glaring was ‘Mexican standoff’. The author calls this “two men who pretend they want to fight but actually don’t” (254). Perhaps this is one meaning in some places, but where I am from, the phrase means ‘An impasse in which neither side can gain anything from the confrontation’. The only way to solve such a standoff is for both parties to walk away. These two stood out for me while reading the book…I’m sure there are more.

To sum this up, I can say that 1) I admire the author’s project, but 2) I can’t get past some of the problems associated with it. If you feel you can, there is much to gain here…Though a lot to wade through in the process.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book I stumbled across at my local library. I enjoyed it so much that I am putting on list of must-have books for my personal library.

This compilation of word and phrase origins that have become cultural staples in American language. Many of the phrases that are covered by the author are ones that I have used for as long as I can remember and never knew the origin or the intent of the phrase when it first became a part of the lexicon in the United States.

The way in which the book is organized allows the reader to browse and read about topics of interest as a reference or read straight through. The author does an outstanding job of using engrossing narrative that draws the reader in and this doesn't read as a stale reference tool. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the analysis of why some verbal artifacts stand the test of time and linger in conversation long after the topic they originally referred to has been forgotten. This compilation of catchphrases is what the author, Ralph Keyes, calls "Retrotalk". A great combination of history and culture in a highly entertaining and interesting fashion.

Here is a chapter overview of how the author groups the retroterm origins together by subject:

Story Lines- Classic stories and fables
The Name's Familiar- Famous people whose names have lingered
Fighting Words- Words and phrases that originated during wartime
Stump Speeches- Words and phrases made famous by politicians
From Levittown to Jamestown- Words and phrases left over from protests
Law and Order- Words and phrases from the legal and enforcement field
Good Sports- Words and phrases from the world of sports
Getting Around- Words and phrases from various modes of transportation
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Casting Couch- Journalist and movie-maker
Movie Metaphors- Words and phrases from the silver screen
Home & Hearth- Words and phrases from the farm
Sizzling Widgets- Words and phrases from advertising
On the Job- Words and phrases from the office
Over the Wires and in the Groove- Words and phrases from news and radio
Kid Stuff- Words and phrases from toys of yesteryear
Stay Tuned!- Words and phrases from TV
Seen in the Funny Papers- Words and phrases from the comics
Between Covers- Words and phrases from famous literature

[Jessrawk · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book could have done without the author's dumbass opinions on popular culture he so obviously does not understand.

& again, so much twisting to turn every retro term into something popularized by an American's words (even when the term originated from a very old phrase).

[Rory · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars, really. A big fat MEH. I think it's a case of a publisher shining up a book with a catchy title, a cool cover and a misleading pitch. I was talking to Shelley H. about this and we agreed that we'd hoped the same thing--that it'd cover and illuminate very of-the-decade slang, filling our history-lovin' brains with both the origins and silliness of, say, "daddy-o" and "moll."

Instead, it was a rather staid mini-encyclopedia of what the author DECIDED, almost randomly, to call "retro-talk," which is what he calls English words/phrases/idioms/metaphors still used regularly but rooted in old-fashioned practices.

So, sometimes this was intriguing (like with the words in the subtitle!) but sometimes it was half-patronizing and all-boring. I don't need earnest explanations of what "get off your high horse" means just because cars have been invented.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/200...

[Tamara Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a self proclaimed “word nerd” who loves words as well as the stories behind how words and phrases became parts of American language. “I Love It When You Talk Retro” is definitely a must read and it is entertaining as well as informative. The book consists of twenty-two chapters which provides stories on different environments (such as military, movies, law, etc.) have shaped present day word usage.

The book begins with a explanation of what are retroterms (allusions to past phenomena which are verbal artifacts that remain long after the phenomena has passed.) Examples of retroterms include cold feet, sell like hotcakes, and fly off the handle.

Overall the book was a good read in reference to the content that was presented. I liked that the author suggests to the reader multiple ways to read this book such as by browsing, read straight through, or used as a work of reference. I especially liked the way in which the author presents the words using bold print to highlight the retroterm used.

[Susan Liston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, it's the origin of a huge number of everyday expressions, grouped by subject of origin. To make it easy to spot them for further reference, the expressions themselves are in bold type. Most interesting.

[Phair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved books about word origins, proverbs, slang and odd references. This one was informative and nicely divided up into thematic chapters. Being quite a bit older than the intended audience for this book I was fairly familiar with most of the retro terms. Where I am beginning to feel left out is some of the newer terms that he also touches on (future retro talk) that the kids get but we oldsters aren't quite up on. I had the most fun reading many of the sections to my husband who is some years younger and must have been living under a rock for much of his life as he is woefully ignorant of so many allusions and turns of phrase. The very next book I picked up to read, a memoir, had in the first two chapters a reference to Blanche DuBois (implying having to rely on the kindness of strangers) and mentioned a "600 pound gorilla". Retro is out there.

[Heather C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy just about any book that deals with language, and this one was good. It can be read straight through, or as a reference. It tracks the origins of just about every idiom you can think of, and explains the background of how the connection is made between how it was originally used and the way it is used now. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that I am suspicious (ok, cynical) of some of the purported origins, they sounded 'googled' to me, but that's just me.

[reading is my hustle]

This is for readers who were born before Generation X- I did not get many (if any) of the "retro talk" except "where's the beef?" I kept waiting for the "oh, so that's where it comes from" word or phrase.

Still waiting.

[Julie]

Started July 30, 2016; set aside about a year later until I can get back in the mood.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good content, but too much of a frenetic brain dump to be truly enjoyable.

Kindle quotes:

In that story, a boy confronted with a mound of horse manure plunges in and begins to dig with enthusiasm. Asked why he’s doing so, the boy responds that with this much manure, there’s bound to be a pony inside. That story dates back at least to the early 1960s, when my brother Gene heard it from a college professor. Over time there must be a pony in there has come to signify sunny assessments of gloomy circumstances. - location 296


crow is a notoriously unappetizing bird. Stories involving crow consumption have fueled American humor for decades. For example: If lost in the woods, (1) Catch a crow. (2) Boil for a week with one of your boots. (3) Eat the boot. - location 305


With “Mrs. Lincoln” deleted, this has become a catchphrase that is often used to depict the obvious: Other than that, how did you like the play? The punch line of many a joke is considered so well known that it can be dropped into conversations on the assumption that everyone knows the setup. - location 360


Typhoid Mary. That name reappears whenever symptom-free carriers of contagious diseases are discovered, literally or figuratively. Lamenting Walt Whitman’s impact on aspiring writers, Garrison Keillor called him “the Typhoid Mary of American Lit: so much bad poetry can be traced back to him.” - location 464


World War II’s bombs were far more potent than those used in the First World War. Ones weighing several tons—powerful enough to destroy large complexes of buildings, what the British called “blocks”—were dubbed blockbusters by Royal Air Force (RAF) fliers. - location 756


the boonies. This was short for boondocks, a term that originated among American soldiers fighting in the Philippines at the turn of the twentieth century. While there, the Yanks picked up bundok, the Tagalog word for “hinterlands,” - location 855


Boondoggle originally referred to the leather lanyards that Boy Scouts braided to gather their scarves or attach to their whistles. During the Great Depression conservatives disparaged public works projects by calling them boondoggles after a New York Times article reported that the unemployed were being taught how to make that ephemeral object. In Vietnam this word became soldier slang for meaningless missions. In time boondoggle came to characterize our futile involvement in Vietnam overall. That term has since been applied to a wide range of fiscal fiascos, ranging from Boston’s “Big Dig” underground highway tunnel to shoddily built levees in New Orleans. 5. - location 860


since the early nineteenth century, special-interest advocates who accosted legislators in the lobbies of capital buildings came to be known as lobbyists. - location 874


Explaining his decision not to run for re-election as president in 1952, Truman cited the advice of an old friend back in Missouri: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” After he said that, take the heat or taking heat became standard shorthand for being able to endure controversy and criticism. - location 883


When General Sherman’s brother John, then secretary of the treasury, returned to his Ohio farm in 1879 to court support for a U.S. Senate run, he said the purpose of his trip was “only to repair my fences.” This gave birth to the catchphrase mend my fences as a euphemism for tending to political relationships. That phrase in turn was compressed to fence-mending. - location 922


Roosevelt used the term bully the way kids a century later would say “awesome.” When TR called the presidency a bully pulpit, he meant that it was a first-rate platform from which to advocate his positions. - location 935


Today the Checkers speech refers to any dubious statement of contrition. - location 1006


After it became clear that Gray’s nomination was in trouble, John Ehrlichman (who went on to become a novelist) once again reached into his kit bag of vivid imagery when John Dean asked how he thought they should proceed. “I think we ought to let him hang there,” Ehrlichman responded. “Let him twist slowly, slowly in the wind.” This portrayal of Gray’s doomed status was so evocative that twisting in the wind is still used for someone who has been left hanging. - location 1089


drinking Kool-Aid eventually became synonymous with blind allegiance. This catchphrase took time to come into widespread use, not becoming ubiquitous until early 2000s. - location 1426


Queensberry’s rules also forbade “hitting below the belt” (inspiring the remarkably high-waisted shorts prizefighters wear to this day). - location 1727


A jockey so sure of victory that he let his hands drop was said to win hands down. Maneuvering - location 1885


World War I veterans who fought in World War II were called retreads. - location 2061


Centuries ago, loose-fitting slipshoes were worn inside British homes. Some enjoyed the comfort of these early-day slippers so much that they wore them outside as well. This was not considered good form. In fact, during the sixteenth century anyone so gauche as to wear slipshoes in public risked being derided as slipshod. That term was subsequently applied to those of sloppy appearance, then to anything at all—work performance especially—judged second-rate. - location 2866


Until fairly recently a well-chosen hat was an essential part of respectable male wardrobes. John Kennedy was instrumental in scuttling that fashion imperative when he gave his 1960 inaugural address with wind whipping through his hair. The men’s hat industry collapsed overnight. - location 2908


cash registers. When their drawer was opened a bell rang, inspiring the phrase ring it up for making a purchase. That unnecessary chime was engineered into cash registers (originally called Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashiers after inventor James Ritty) so employers would know when employees were handling money. - location 3009


Onetime trademarks that lost their legal protection due to common usage include elevator, escalator, formica, thermos, yo-yo, dry ice, raisin bran, granola, zipper, trampoline, ping-pong, loafer, and aspirin. - location 3074


Tinkers were not known for having a civil tongue. In fact, their penchant for profanity was so notorious that not worth a tinker’s cuss was once a common catchphrase. That morphed into not worth a tinker’s damn. This phrase posed problems for tender ears, however, so in Victorian times an alternative etymology emerged to explain that this expression had to do with the mound of dough that tinkers built around a flawed utensil segment they then flooded with solder. Since this dam could be used only once, something of no lasting value might be thought of as not worth a tinker’s dam. From the Victorian era on this was the genteel form of that expression. - location 3224


After the Civil War, southern vigilantes used bullwhips to beat former slaves who did not do their bidding, especially those who had the temerity to run for office. Such a savage, sometimes fatal lashing was called a bull-dose, or a beating sufficient to subdue a bull. This term came to be spelled bulldoze. Those who administered them were called bulldozers. Eventually “bulldoze” was applied more broadly to getting one’s way by intimidating others. Bulldoze still signifies action that heedlessly pushes obstacles out of the way. When a diesel-powered earthmoving machine was introduced in 1930, it quickly became known as a bulldozer. - location 3249


harking back to early telephones with separate earpieces that hung in a U-shaped hook on the side, we still say an inoperative phone is off the hook, talk of busy phones ringing off the hook, and hang up after completing a call. - location 3448


Molded from ore excavated at his silver mine, the Lone Ranger’s bullets always hit their target. Like the silver stakes needed to kill a vampire, these bullets were more lethal than ones made of lead. Today the term silver bullet is applied to any sharply targeted weapon of great potency. - location 3786


Radio also added broadcasting to the lexicon, a term borrowed from the farm implement that scatters seeds in all directions. - location 3814


The need for terminology in the brave new world of technology has led to much repurposing of old terms. For a long time the Enter key on computer keyboards was called a Return key because that’s how it was labeled on electric typewriters (since pushing this key made the carriage return). For lack of a better word, even those who rarely read books bookmark their favorite sites on the Internet. When highlighting and moving blocks of text on a computer screen they cut and paste. After Newsweek’s Steven Levy told some young Google employees that he used to literally cut text from one page of copy and paste it onto another with Elmer’s glue, one exclaimed, “So that’s where ‘cut and paste’ came from!” - location 5091

[rabbitprincess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a fairly enjoyable book. Because I often assert that I was born too late, I found myself recognizing a good deal of these phrases, especially in the chapter on eponyms and terms referring to classical studies (e.g. Gordian knot, Pyrrhic victory). Also I definitely know what a breadbox is.

My favourite chapter was probably the one on terms that came into common usage through the various world wars and global conflict (WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam) -- I spent most of that chapter thinking, "Hey, I use that term! And that one! And that one too!" Apparently my idiolect makes extensive use of conflict-based terms, such as cooties, cold feet, shell-shocked, flash in the pan, and going off half-cocked. I also liked the chapter on nautical terms and was quite surprised to discover the origin of the phrase "taken aback".

Some folk may beg to differ with Keyes' assertions re advertising jingles that have stood the test of time -- the prologue states that Chiffon Margarine's "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!" has been around for a long time, whereas the Alka-Seltzer slogan "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" has not. In my experience the reverse is true -- I had never heard the Chiffon Margarine slogan before reading it in this book. I did however agree with the longevity of "Where's the beef?" and "I've fallen and I can't get up!" So perhaps some of these jingles and catchphrases are more popular in some areas than others. I would also argue that "kids these days" are probably somewhat conversant with LP-related terminology like "stuck in a groove" and "flip side" given the resurgence in vinyl.

All in all there is plenty of food for thought and fodder for debate in this book. Worth a read if you like knowing where expressions come from or if you're looking for some new (new-to-you) ones to sprinkle into conversation.

[dirt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good example of how language grows and shrinks, incorporating new words and phrases to describe life, discarding outdated vocabulary.

One phrase that we need to add to our vernacular is "Russell Simmonsed". As in, "Man, that guy really fucked me over and prevented me from reaching my full potential for his own professional gain. I was russell simmonsed." Or for short, "Quit simmonsizing me."

The portion of the book that covers retro movietalk was a disappointment. He skipped some really crucial movie line references that people all over the world encounter on a daily basis.

He completely ignores Wayne's World which is the movie that gave us such memorable lines as "Marriage is punishment for shoplifting in some countries." and "Ex-squeeze me? A-Baking powder?"

But the biggest oversight was the complete omission of Weird Al Yankovic's UHF. Heard daily are people jumping out of closets and shouting, "Supplies!" There's also the phrase that can't better describe the distress one feels after losing a series of dead-end jobs, "Mm boy... look what I got here, a twinkie-wiener sandwich... your favorite." In a recent FOX News program Glenn Beck asked Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor if she would like her "twinkie-wiener dog sandwich for here or to go."

[Regan Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that investigate the origins of words and phrases. This might be due to my habit of misusing words and phrases as I put the English language through the wringer on a daily basis. Books like this feel like they might actually help me shift gears and get on track when trying to express myself. It was told in a casual yet informative manner that made it easy to read from front to back, but was well enough organized that I'm sure to pick it up when I need to refresh my memory on why I say things like "put through the wringer,"shift gears" and "get on track." (I also got a kick out of the author's random mini-critiques on certain pop cultural works. He says "The Andy Griffith Show" was "well conceived, well written, and well acted" as a preface to the real reason "Mayberry" has stuck as a symbol for an idealized small town. When discussing the term "pulp fiction," he dismisses the Quentin Tarantino film with one word: "overrated." I agree with both of these sentiments, by the way, as I do with this emphatic statement: "Radio also engaged the imagination in a way that television could not and cannot.")

[Joshua Rigsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. At times I wanted it to be more academic. At times I wanted it to be funnier. But on the whole, four stars seems appropriate. I learned quite a bit about the origins of phrases I have heard but never used, and others that I used all the time without knowing from whence they came.

There were a couple entries that struck me as a bit dubious, and at times I wondered if the author did his complete due diligence with the research, but overall it increased my knowledge about the origins of modern language, and for that I'm grateful.

I'd recommend it to anyone who loves etymologies, history, and/or socio-cultural origins. Great for an entertaining read or as a reference book.

[Chrissy Neff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book at my local library while searching through retro-themed books.
I think that this is a pretty informative little book. It would be a must read for anyone who hasn't grown up in the Gen. X (or older eras), who are always wondering just what all these old sayings mean.
Every entry (and explanation) are categorized by topic. The book is written in a traditional story-type fashion, but personally I would have preferred it in a bulleted, referance-type format.
There are some explanations that I would have liked the author to go into detail with, but that may just be the "eternal student" in me.
All in all, I do recommend this book, especially for retro-enthusiasts, like myself.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I'm disappointed that discussion about Whammies did not include reference to "Press Your Luck!" However, I was unaware that Whammies and Double Whammies originated from L'il Abner.

Easily digestible in short bursts. This is an amusing book containing information an inch deep and a mile wide. I am aware that some specific items could have been better researched, which makes me question the veracity of the remainder.

I learned a few things I didn't know, and confirmed a bunch of others. There were also several phrases which I had never heard, but would also be unlikely to incorporate into general use.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Gift from Alex from her trip to Boston.]
Just a couple chapters in, but here are initial impressions: The book is fairly scattershot and explains the origins behind phrases that many of us use on a regular basis, some of which we even forget are references. The author tries to group things with a similar origin together to give the book more cohesion, but it still is something one could pick up, read a couple pages, skip around, etc.
I already knew some of these, but many (most?) were new to me thus far.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting description of English (American) terms and phrases and where they came from. I sat down to read this book from cover to cover, but it was sort of like reading a dictionary. I think it would be more interesting to browse through. I did learn a few things and had fun remembering some of my favorite childhood TV shows, cartoons and advertising jingles - the sources of many phrases still common today.

[D.M. Busek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A treasure chest for a non-native speaker (like me). A slightly biased approach of the author didn't spoil it for me, and the narrative was fun. Some of the stories however were not quite accurate (I was told, e.g., that "have tux, will travel" came first, and "have gun, will travel" is based on it). Which is a shame because I'd really like to use this book as a reference guide instead of consulting Wikipedia etc. all the time.

[Lesley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Published in 2009, this book was already out dated. Some of the tried and true saying remain the same but most were already antiquated. While the arrangement of the book was well suited for quick reading, some of the vocabulary that the author selected was troublesome for me and ultimately distracted me from the text. I would have also liked more in text citations and research acknowledgments.

I didn't finish the book.

[John Stafiej · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh! I wanted to love it, and at moments I did. But overall it just felt like more of a chore to read. I was really glad when I finally finished it, just because it was over.

He categorized the retro-terms into topics & sub-topics creating a cool flow, and I loved learning about some of the origins of words / expressions that get thrown around. But I couldn't help wonder if there's not a better book out there that does the same thing with a little more kick.

[Jen Jaketic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really neat look into the words in the lexicon that we use quite commonly, from cliche-like terms as "throw the gauntlet" to "pork barrel." It's a book that I can pick up and read about a section whenever I have time, because it doesn't need to be read cover to cover. It's organized into themes, such as sports and food. It really opened my eyes because many words are so common that I didn't even realize there was a story to how they became a part of the American lexicon.

[Turi Becker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this book - most of the examples of the origins of phrases seemed painfully obvious. About one in 50 or so was vaguely interesting, maybe one a whole chapter was intriguing. I started skimming after the first chapter. Fortunately, it is well indexed, so it could be used as a reference work...

[Tamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed this book--as any good etymology nerd would--I didn't finish it. I had borrowed it from the library and couldn't make myself sit down and read it through before it was due to be returned to the library. It's more suited to "casual reading" (today's euphemism for "reading on the john") than to reading it from beginning to end.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was no continuity to this book. I could find no way to get into it because there was no way to "keep reading;" although the concepts were organized by chapter, they did not flow logically into one another, especially because not enough could be said about one before the author had to move onto a new idea. It was a nice idea and an interesting premise, but as a full-length book, it failed.

[Darshan Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

A useful book for folks into the evolution of idiomatic language. The book's focus, however, is rather narrow, largely chronicling dominant idioms and expressions without regard for the multiracial constituencies of the U.S. Sometimes the author was a bit clumsy and disordered, but given the book's scope, that seems unsurprising.

[Carolyn Fitzpatrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only got about 25 pages in and had to stop. If you do not know any American idioms, this book might be interesting. But if you already know American sayings and want to know where they came from, you will be frustrated by the vague references to time and place, senseless thematic organization, and dubious claims (several that I double-checked elsewhere did not pan out).