Dictionary of Catch Phrases

Perhaps most readers don't think of a "Dictionary" as a page turner, but this volume should come w/ a warning: if you open this during some sort of serious scholarly pursuit, you WILL be distracted. As an editor, Paul Bell has picked up not merely where Eric Partridge left off, but w/ the same lively tone that Partridge is famous for. Eric Partridge must surely have been the most delightful of dinner guests, w/ stories and quotes to astonish and delight for hours. This book fills something of the same purpose. It has voice! Even if you have Partridge's Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional Usage (a book you cannot put down after looking up just one thing!) this is a fine addition to any library. "Slang etc." has many of these catchphrases, but in this volume, given separately, it's easier to chase down some link or thought or phrase. As ever, Partridge's Dictionaries are scrupulous about dating their entries and citing the source. That this lists both British and American together also differentiates it from the "Dictionary of Slang." This book should be a must-have reference book for any writer, if only to remind you of the swath and vivacity of expression. And, it's a wonderful tool for procrastination.

This book may have the information it claims to have but it is so poorly designed and executed that it makes the book just about useless. The copy I received has print so small that it is uncomfortable to read. The quality of the paper and the printing allows for a blurred appearance in the copy. A general disappointment all round.

Unfortunately, this book did not have the type of "catch phrases" i was looking for. I was hoping for a book that would explain sayings such as "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water"; or "mind your Ps & Qs.It is full of sayings that are of no interest to me. I guess I wanted a book explaining proverbs rather than this one.

Good read and historical background to various catch phrases. Handy.

If you like words this is a fun book to have

Thank you.

People need to quit using this as the holy Bible of the origination of says and Partridge is the Messiah. Several PC activist have started teaching sayings such as "long time, no see" and "no can do" based off of this books ascertain that it was used to make fun of Asian. There is nothing, other than this one book, that supports that claim. But now it is derogatory to say those phrases as taught in corporate HR training sessions. Total bunk. People need to be reminded that this book is just one person's opinions. He did collaborate on many and studied many of the sayings...but not all. He use his own thoughts and ideas to fill in gaps that couldn't be substantiated.

Lots of phrases you have not heard. So, good source for freshening upyour conversation. But, type is small.

It is not usefully for me. I want back my money.