Sayings & Their Stories

From discovering why coffee is called a "cup of Joe" to the comical story of how "paint the town red" came to be, Sayings & Their Stories will take readers on a fascinating and entertaining journey through the history of common phrases we use every day and how they have changed over time. Through fun anecdotes, engaging stories, and surprising histories, Sayings & Their Stories helps readers deepen their understanding of the many colorful expressions we use to enhance the English language. Whether you are a language enthusiast or someone interested in learning the history behind our words, this book will surely take you the "whole nine yards." Some of the many things you will learn inside include: -How the phrase "Charley horse" derived from baseball -What ancient India and statues have to do with "buttering someone up" -Why we say "knock on wood" to avoid bad luck -The curious maritime story that coined the phrase "turn a blind eye"