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The Ecology of a Tropical Forest: Seasonal Rhythms and Long-Term Changes
Manufacturer: Smithsonian ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1560986425 |
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THE ECOLOGY OF A TROPICAL FOREST. SEASONAL RHYTHMS AND LONG-TERM CHANGES.
E. et al. Leigh Manufacturer: Smithsonian Institution ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000WPAEXG |
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101 Defensive Line Drills
Mark Snyder Manufacturer: Coaches Choice Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1585182354 |
Customer Reviews:
Drills that carry over to the field.......2000-04-12
this book is great for all coaches.......1999-06-11
this book is great for all coaches.......1999-06-11
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The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins (Facts on File Writer's Library)
Robert Hendrickson Manufacturer: Checkmark Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0816059926 |
Amazon.com
Seemingly designed for those with laser-focused attention or plenty of time on their hands, the Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins provides days of browsing for etymophiles. More than 9,000 entries, nearly a quarter of them new to this edition, cover slang, idiom, and commonly used words with interesting or curious histories. Ranging from a few sentences to half a page, the entries are consistently entertaining and well-researched, though author Robert Hendrickson acknowledges in his preface that "no good tale is omitted merely because it isn't true." (He does note apocrypha when appropriate.) The book pulls few, if any, punches, and nearly everyone will find at least one term or definition offensive; try "Irish beauty" for "a girl with two black eyes," for example. But, for every potentially offensive term, you'll find several hundred delights, such as "veronica" and "cut off your nose to spite your face." Though there's a slight trend toward Americanisms, there's plenty of British, Irish, and other varieties of English represented herein as well. While it is a terrifically useful reference work, it is nearly impossible to keep one's eyes from wandering, more so than with any other work of its kind. Still, a few extra minutes spent in the company of good words and good stories makes the Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins as pleasurable as it is useful. --Rob LightnerBook Description
In this entertaining compendium, Robert Hendrickson, author of numerous popular works on language and literature, traces the sometimes bizarre and always fascinating origins and developments of more than 9,000 words and phrases, including slang, proverbs, animal and plant names, place names, nicknames, historical expressions, foreign-language expressions, and more. The emphasis throughout is on words and expressions with origins that are not adequately explained-or not addressed at all-in standard dictionaries. This greatly expanded and revised version of the critically acclaimed 1987 original offers more than 2,000 new entries, including:paparazzi: Director Frederico Fellini named a hyperactive photographer in his film La Dolce Vita Signore Paparazzo, after Italian slang for "mosquito". The popularity of Fellini's film led to the widespread use of the term paparazzi for relentless swarms of celebrity-chasing photographers.
Quaaludes: The inventor of Quaaludes named his new drug after a contraction of quiet interludes-which he hoped it would induce.
toady: In the 17th century, conjurer's assistants would eat a toad, causing temporary illness that they would later "heal," thereby demonstrating their "miraculous" powers. The assistants came to be known as "toad-eaters," from which derives our modern insult toady.
Customer Reviews:
Intrigue!.......2007-07-24
The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins (Facts on File Writer's Library).......2007-03-22
Like salted peanuts...........2007-01-31
Missing many common phrases.......2003-01-13
Some of the entries I have looked for and NOT found:
Tomfoolery
can't have your cake and eat it too
can't see the forest for the trees
dog and pony show
in the doghouse
with bells on
hard-nosed
slowpoke
wisecrack
Or in the case of "high noon" it has an entry but just says that it is not from the movie, it was first recorded in 14th-century England. No further explaination of how or why. In fact many of the entries that are listed don't have that answer. A large percentage of the entries have some form of uncertainty.
"... is probably dated back to..."
"It is unknown how..."
"... may have it's origins in..."
The defintions of some of the phrases are confusing and don't even touch on origin. All I can do it list an entry on this one (NOTE: this is the complete entry):
beg to advise. The much-used phrase beg to advise, so often read in business letters, may be dated but isn't incorrect by any means. Here "advise" doesn't mean "to give advice" but "to give information," information being one of the meanings of advice. This is seen in another common business expression: "We would appreciate the benefit of your advice."
The index is also poor, it seems only to list the people who said the phrases not the actually phrases.
I recommend the Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins it has all of the phrases I couldn't find here. The index is great, it also list the root word of the phrase. So if I want "can't have your cake and eat it too" I could lookup the actual phrase or under "cake" it has a list of the phrases with cake in them.
Keep in mind this book has a lot of words and phrases that one doesn't, and that one has a lot this one doesn't, but that one has more of what you (or at least I) want.
Fine reference but.............2002-08-16
All the above being said, if this new edition had a *SEWN* binding I'd give it five stars!
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Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins
Manufacturer: Facts on File ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 0965080323 |
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The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins -- Revised and Expanded Edition.(Review) (book review): An article from: ETC.: A Review of General Semantics
Martin H. Levinson Manufacturer: International Society for General Semantics ProductGroup: Book Binding: Digital ASIN: B0008HZY2O Release Date: 2005-07-28 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from ETC.: A Review of General Semantics, published by International Society for General Semantics on March 22, 2001. The length of the article is 534 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
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Zagat 2005 New York City Restaurants (Zagatsurvey)
Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1570066396 |
Customer Reviews:
The ultimate guide.......2005-09-06
Reliable reference.......2004-12-02
As vital as oxygen for "foodies" .......2004-11-25
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ZagatSurvey 2005 New York City Restaurants: Black Leather (Zagat Survey: New York City Restaurants Leather)
Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Leather Bound ASIN: 157006640X |
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Zagat 2005/06 New York City Nightlife (Zagatsurvey)
Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1570067139 Release Date: 2005-05-30 |
Book Description
ISBN: 1570067139 TITLE: 2005/06 New York City Nightlife AUTHOR: Zagat Survey DESCRIPTION: Covering over 1,300 bars, clubs and lounges.
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Zagat 2005 Brooklyn (Zagatsurvey: Brooklyn) (Zagatsurvey: Brooklyn)
Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1570066523 |
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Zagat 2005 Downtown New York City: Below Houston Street (Zagatsurvey: Downtown New York City)
Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 1570066507 |
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Zagat 2005 New York City Gourmet Marketplace (Zagat New York City Gourmet Marketplace)
Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 157006623X |
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Zagat 2005 New York City Pack (Zagatsurvey New York City Pack)
Zagat Survey Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 1570066663 |
Product Description
There's more to do in New York than in any other city in the world, and Zagat will help you find all of it. Whether you are looking for a restaurant, a store, a nightclub - or just the perfect bagel - a Zagat Survey guide will make sure you get it right. After all, nobody knows New York like the people who live there - and that's just who Zagat asks. Save when you buy the New York City Pack (books sold separately for $56.80 retail value)! This pack includes the New York City Shopping guide, covering 2,000 stores that run the gamut from chic boutiques to mega-discounters, New York City Restaurants, New York City Nightlife and New York City Gourmet Marketplace, featuring 1,625 top food and entertaining resources. Experience the best New York City has to offer with the New York City Pack. 1. New York City Gourmet Marketplace 2005 2. New York City Shopping 2005 3. New York City Nightlife 2005/06 4. New York City Restaurants 2005
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Zagat 2005 New York City Shopping (Zagatsurvey New York City Shopping)
Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1570067074 |
Book Description
Snatch up this new edition of our best-selling New York City Shopping guide. Covering over 1,000 of the city's best stores, this guide is a must-have for New Yorkers and tourists alike.Customer Reviews:
Not user friendly, not informative.......2005-10-02
Disappointing.......2004-01-19
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Zagat 2005 Westchester Commuter Pack (Zagat Westchester Commuter Pack)
Zagat Survey Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 1570066647 |
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ZagatMap 2005 New York City Restaurants (Zagat Map: New York City)
Zagat Survey Manufacturer: Zagat Survey ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 1570066388 |
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