Even-Steven and Fair and Square: More Stories Behind the Words

by Morton S. Freeman

The histories of words hold a special fascination because they touch our lives in an immediate way. Finding out the origins of our everyday vocabulary provides answers to the questions that cross our minds every time we use sayings that sound exotic and quirky, mysterious and fantastic, or totally illogical and unrelated to anything familiar in contemporary times. Haven't you ever wondered how one can win hands down? If jingo was imported from some faraway place? Why madness is associated with March hares? And what is so distasteful about eating crow? Knowing the tales and truths about common words and phrases adds a rich accuracy to our use of language and a lively sharpness to our tongue. Now this entertaining and informative sequel to the highly acclaimed Hue and Cry and Humble Pie brings us essays and anecdotes galore on another 500 words and phrases. No word maven will be able to look up just one.

Genres: Language

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

Reviews

[Linda McHardy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was interesting. Somewhat amusing. Definitely not a book to sit down and read cover to cover all at once. That would become tedious. The real tedium, though, was the way Freeman felt it necessary to try to fit in some sort of pun at the end of every single entry. Good grief! That was really more than I could take. Annoying to the point of making me have to stop reading it, despite what other interesting tidbits I might have gleaned throughout the rest of the pages.