Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

By Elizabeth Knowles

Book Overview

What is a ham-and-egger?
What are Anglo-Saxon attitudes?
Who or what is liable to jump the shark?
Who first tried to nail jelly to the wall?

The answers to these and many more questions are in this fascinating book. Here in one volume you can track down the stories behind the names and sayings you meet, whether in classic literature or today's news. This authoritative dictionary draws on Oxford's unrivalled bank of reference and language online resources to cover classical and other mythologies, history, religion, folk customs, superstitions, science and technology, philosophy, and popular culture. Extensive cross referencing makes it easy to trace specific information, while every page points to further paths to explore.

What is the fog of war?
Who first wanted to spend more time with one's family?
When was the Dreamtime?
How long since the first cry of Women and children first?
Where might you find dark matter?
Would you want the Midas touch?
Should you worry about grey goo?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198609817
• ISBN13: 9780198609810
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 806 Pages
• Weight: 3.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

P. Cooper

Oxford's Phrase and Fable is helpful to writers. Some of the phrases are familiar from my childhood; my mother was full of phrases and anecdotes. This book sprouts memories that are still alive.

A Must-Have for Any Writer's Reference Library

This volume contains a useful variety of words, phrases, and biography information that you won't find in any other dictionary. While reading newspapers, magazines, and other current media, I often encounter cultural references, phrases, proverbial sayings, and more, that aren't listed in any dictionary that defines single words. For example, The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable contains entries for a wide variety of subjects such as John Lennon, Pop goes the weasel, and "It's the economy, stupid." Great stuff!At well over a thousand pages, this volume has all the heft of any good dictionary.