Dictionary of Word Origins: A History of the Words, Expressions and Cliches We Use | 
 enlarge | Author: Jordon Almond
Publisher: Citadel Pr
Category: Book
List Price: $12.95
Buy Used: $1.75
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Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 422080
Media: Paperback
Pages: 286
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9
ISBN: 0806517131
Dewey Decimal Number: 422.03
EAN: 9780806517131
ASIN: 0806517131
Publication Date: October 1, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: FEW BENT CORNERS Used - Good Default Text
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
Decent resource for writers coaches November 1, 2008
Joyce Schwarz (Marina Del Rey, CA USA)
Hi, I use this books and many of the other phrase or word derivation books as part of my career coaching practice and in guiding my clients to create their Vision Statements as seen in The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Lifeand also in my book Successful Recareering: When Changing Jobs Just Isn't Enough This book is helpful but not as good as Dictionary of Clicheswhich I use almost daily. But you may enjoy a choice on your bookshelf.
 Fun. December 14, 2002
Scott Knudsen (Air Ronge, Saskatchewan Canada)
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
A fun read, but looking through Amazon, there may be better books on this subject.
 Intriguing, Instructional, Curious October 23, 2002
A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com (Glen Ellyn, IL USA)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
Jordan Almond's "Dictionary of Word Origins" is an intriguing look at phrases and words we all toss about apart from their original meaning. This book is about those original meanings of cliches.pThis is different than most 'unusual word' dictionaries. Usually, you'll get the term, maybe a pronunciation and a short definiton. Instead, here we are introduced to where the word came from. He explains it carefully in layman's language. He doesn't gussy up his book with high-fallootin' lexographical phrasology. pFor example, he defines (for a camel to pass through the) "eye of a needle" by describing it biblical origination, and connects it with a Jewish town gateway so small only pedestrians and the smallest of camels can pass through, not large camels (hence, protecting the town from pillagers). Christ famously refers to this in the New Testament, forever placing the phrase in our vernacular.pJordan tosses our way what 'doughboy,' 'hair of the dog,' 'grandfather clock,' 'corn,' 'boondoggle,' 'nose to the grindstone."p'Manna' for example, means, "What is it?" as the Isrealites had no idea what they were being given. 'Maudlin,' Jordan reveals, is from the British pronunciation of 'Magdalene,' and that early artists painted Mary Magdalene with a dour demeanor.pEditorial historians might differ with Jordan as per the precise origin of 'OK.' They would argue that it was a silly joke--an intended deviation of "all correct" (oll korekt) as written on acceptable copy. Jordan suggests that it is from Martin Van Buren's nickname of Old Kinderhook while he ran for office.pKnowing this is not a scientific text, you can enjoy this as I did, as something to wander through while sipping tea and munching warm scones on an early Saturday morning. Linguists, cultural anthropologists might all disagree about the beginnings of words, but, for me, it was a fun, educational read.pI fully recommend "Dictionary of Word Origins" by Jordan Almond.pAnthony Trendl
as a failed lexicographer April 13, 2002
pete saussy (columbia sc csa)
2 out of 9 found this review helpful
i should hesitate to criticize a fellow drudge in the ditch of language, but Professor Almond's definition of the phrase TIPS was used on a local radio show as an acronym for To Insure Prompt Service. ... brbut professor almond's book seems to be popular, i have yet to catch it unchecked out at our local librarybronwardbrpete saussy/george stone saussy iii, compiler of the Oxter English Dictionary/Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Words/The Logodaedalian's Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Words [all pretty much the same book and out of print]
 Don't believe everything you read November 15, 2000
John Vowell (Glen Ellyn, IL USA)
4 out of 15 found this review helpful
I found a number of inaccuracies in this book, one of the largest being Mr. Jordan's explication of the expression as difficult as a camel passing through the eye of a needle. It appears that he hasn't read Matthew 18 which states And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
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