This Dictionary is part of the Oxford Reference Collection: using sustainable print-on-demand technology to make the acclaimed backlist of the Oxford Reference programme perennially available in hardback format. What is a ham-and-egger? What are Anglo-Saxon attitudes? Who or what is liable to jump the shark? Who first tried to nail jelly to the wall? The answers to these and many more questions are in this fascinating book. Here in one volume you can track down the stories behind the names and sayings you meet, whether in classic literature or today's news. Drawing on Oxford's unrivalled bank of reference and language online resources, this dictionary covers classical and other mythologies, history, religion, folk customs, superstitions, science and technology, philosophy, and popular culture. Extensive cross referencing makes it easy to trace specific information, while every page points to further paths to explore. A fascinating slice of cultural history, and a browser's delight from start to finish. What is the fog of war? Who first wanted to spend more time with one's family? When was the Dreamtime? How long since the first cry of Women and children first? Where might you find dark matter? Would you want the Midas touch? Should you worry about grey goo?

"Dr Brewer's classic work of reference, fully revised and updated for the millennium, now available in paperback"

This work explains the origins of the familiar and the unfamiliar in everyday speech and literature, including the colloquial and the proverbial. It embraces archaeology, history, religion, the arts, science, mythology and characters from fiction.

From the Bloomsbury Group to the Camberwell Carrot, Emperor Claudius to Ken Livingstone and Oranges and Lemons to apples and pears,Brewer's London Phrase & Fableis a must for all Londoners, visitors and anyone who's ever succumbed to the allure of the Big Smoke.In the spirit of the respected and much-lovedBrewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, this new book brings together the people, places, language and lore of London, conveying the essence of Britain's capital with wit, erudition and a wealth of fascinating detail.Whether you're a Londoner through and through, a newly-arrived citizen, a frequent visitor or you prefer to experience this bustling and cacophonous city from the safety of your armchair,Brewer's London Phrase & Fablebrings the heart and soul of London to your bookshelf.

An etymological survey of astronomical names, including the better known stars, the constellations, the planets, and their satellites, and features on celestial bodies, such as craters on the moon. The author is a linquist, not an astronomer, and the book is for the generalist. No pronunciation. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).