Dimboxes, Epopts, and Other Quidams: Words to Describe Life's Indescribable People

by David Grambs

Over 500 succinct, knockout sobriquets and epithets for everybody you know--and everybody you're glad you don't. Fro the most innocuous creep at the party (pigwidgeon) to the motormouth who tyrannizes the car pool (blateroon), the dirtiest old man on the block (pornogenarian) to the lock-jawed Connecticut debutante (dentiloquist), this guide offers sparkling proof that you need never again be at a loss for words.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing, Reference

190 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

Reviews

[Emma Sea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing, because there's no source or etymology given for 99% of the words. OK, yes, so I'm a complete geek who is probably taking this book far more seriously than it was intended, but there are perfectly cromulent words like flaneur, gynecomast, or wowser, and then there's words like melcryptovestimentaphile-- a person with an attraction to ladies' black underwear-- which as far as I can tell isn't a "real" word, in that it has no footprint anywhere on the net except in relation to this book. Given that, how do I trust the contents?

I would have liked this a lot more if it had given me examples of usage and origin for all words, not just the occasional one or two.

The book's from 1986, so the occasional instances of mildly misogynistic language were to be expected. And isn't that a sad fact.

[Charlie Cray · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his autobiographical novel Kenneth Rexroth claimed that during a phase of his adult life when he had to take hours-long epsom bath soaks every day, he made use of the time by propping a board across the tub, where he eventually read the entire encyclopedia.

I can't claim to have "read" this wonderfully entertaining dictionary straight through, but over the years I've probably read all of it. It's a "reference" I've kept handy in various locations for a while - the bathroom, by my desk at work - where I feel "armed" to precisely define the character defects of some mushegener or mauvais sujet or mawworm. It's a great distraction for airmongers, chairwarmers and faineants who want a passive aggressive way to get back at any martinet.

Stamp your memory with a stash of these sobriquets, using them only at the apt occasion, and you might gain the rightful reputation of a philalethist. Just be careful... These days it's easy to acquire the reputation of a a lexiphanic blowhard.

[Barry Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes words fail in describing a person or a situation. Or, more precisely, our vocabulary comes up short. No more! Armed with this compendium of bona fide and arcane words, you will never again be stymied in providing an appropriate label! Logophiles will consume this entertaining little book with enthusiasm and delight. The author has included some exceptional artwork to add to the definitions of such individuals as aristarchs (a severe but fair critic) and giroutte (someone who is continually changing opinions).

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for every sciolist, ultracrepidarian and eristic on your gift list.