Catch phrases such as "shop till you drop," cliches like "life begins at forty" and idioms such as "talk the hind leg off a donkey" have long enriched the English language. Here is a collection of thousands of familiar expressions--a treasure trove of idea-starters and memory-joggers that will make for more imaginative creative writing. An advertising copywriter working on a campaign for, say, a granola-peanut product can easily find the instantly-recognizable phrase "Energy Crunch"--a clever and informative headline. Each phrase is cross-referenced by key word. Thus "raining cats and dogs," for example, appears under "cat," "dog" and "rain." In most cases, various forms of the word are listed under the root word. So under "run" you will find not only sayings that include the word "run," but those that include "running," "runneth," "runner" and "run-around."

A catch phrase is a well-known, frequently-used phrase or saying that has `caught on' or become popular over along period of time. It is often witty or philosophical and this Dictionary gathers together over 7,000 such phrases.

Catchphrase, Slogan & Cliche is for anyone seeking the meanings or origins of hundreds of the expressions that enrich our everyday speech. From phrases that go back to Norman times, through proverbs, catch phrases and quotations, right up to modern expressions, this book takes an informed and amusing look at the origins of some of the more colourful sayings that passed into everyday currency.

A catch phrase is a well-known, frequently-used phrase or saying that has `caught on' or become popular over along period of time. It is often witty or philosophical and this Dictionary gathers together over 7,000 such phrases.

Catch phrases such as shop till you drop, cliches like life begins at forty and idioms such as talk the hind leg off a donkey have long enriched the English language in both spoken and written form. Here is a collection of over 20,000 familiar expressions. To the casual reader or the general browser, this book will inform and entertain. To writers it is a treasure trove of idea-starters that will make for more imaginative creative writing.Each phrase is cross-referenced by key word. Thus raining cats and dogs, for example, appears under cat, dog and rain. In most cases, various forms of the word are listed under the root word. So under run you will find not only sayings that include the word run, but those that include running, runneth, runner and run-around.

This collection will appeal to everyone who has ever wondered about the origin of phrases like "all part of life's rich pattern" and "long time no see". It covers a wide range of catch phrases in current use in all parts of the English-speaking world. Most entries are drawn from the second edition of Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Catch Phrases (second edition, edited by Paul Beale), but have been completely rewritten in the light of recent research, and there are many additions. Catch Phrases include: close your eyes and think of England! have I got news for you! ... refreshes the parts that other ... cannot reach some mothers do'ave'em! you are awful, but I like you.