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Why Do We Say That? 101 Idioms, Phrases, Sayings & Facts! A Brief History On Where They Come From!
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About this item
Why do you “call shotgun” when you want the front passenger seat? What does “letting the cat out of the bag” have to do with divulging secrets? Why do you ask people to “cut to the chase”? Why do you hear all those juicy rumors “through the grapevine”?
Like many people, you’ve probably used idioms or phrases like these without giving them a second thought. But if you were to take a moment to step back and learn about them you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover the mesmerizing and sometimes outright bizarre origins to these fun sayings!
In Why Do We Say That, we have curated 101 of the most regularly used idioms, proverbs, turns of phrases, and colloquial terms that have the most fascinating backstories. For each phrase, we explain how it was coined, how its use evolved through the ages, and how it gained its contemporary use.
Inside you will discover:
️ What the sanitary conditions of 17th century London have to do with “its raining cats and dogs” today.
️ What taking things “with a grain of salt” has to do with an ancient remedy for poison.
️ What Southeast Asian warrior traditions have to do with the term “to run amuck.”
️ Why “to break a leg” became something worth aspiring to in the Elizabethan theaters.
And many, many more!
Whether you're a native English speaker looking to expand your vocabulary, an ESL student or language learner wanting to speak English more naturally and confidently, or a trivia lover fascinated by word origins and quirky English expressions — this idiom book is packed with fun facts, fascinating backstories, and memorable phrases. You'll laugh, learn, and never hear common English idioms the same way again.
Click the Buy Now button at the top of the page to unravel the mysteries behind popular English idioms.
ASIN: 1922531251
VSKU: DBV.1922531251.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Matthews, Scott
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Gently used with minimal wear on the corners and cover. A few pages may contain light highlighting or writing, but the text remains fully legible. Dust jacket may be missing, and supplemental materials like CDs or codes may not be included. May be ex-library with library markings. Ships promptly!
ASIN: 1922531251
VSKU: DBV.1922531251.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Matthews, Scott
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Gently used with minimal wear on the corners and cover. A few pages may contain light highlighting or writing, but the text remains fully legible. Dust jacket may be missing, and supplemental materials like CDs or codes may not be included. May be ex-library with library markings. Ships promptly!
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Most of the items in our store are used. The item's condition grade is indicated near the bottom of the product description. If you have any questions regarding specific details of an item, please contact us. We use the following rating scale:
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