BALLYHOO BUCKAROO & SPUDSThe real story of a word or phrase’s origin and evolution is often much stranger—and much more humorous—than the commonly accepted one; the many entries will certainly leave you “happy as a clam.” Happy as a clam? Really, what’s so happy about being a clam? The saying makes much more sense when it’s paired with its missing second half: “at high water.” Now a clam at high water is a safe clam, and thus a happy clam. From the bawdy to the sublime, Quinion’s explanations and delightful asides truly prove that the “proof is in the pudding.” |
From inside the book
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... Australian actor and satirist Barry Humphries , who popularized it but didn't invent it . ( The first recorded use is actually in the 1950 novel A Town Like Alice , by Nevil Shute . ) The “ watch under " story was mentioned in an ...
... Australian actor and satirist Barry Humphries , who popularized it but didn't invent it . ( The first recorded use is actually in the 1950 novel A Town Like Alice , by Nevil Shute . ) The “ watch under " story was mentioned in an ...
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... Australian writing in 1888 in Robbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood , in which it had the sense of work or exertion ... Australian gold rushes of the nineteenth century . Most dictionaries published outside Australia and New Zealand are ...
... Australian writing in 1888 in Robbery Under Arms by Rolf Boldrewood , in which it had the sense of work or exertion ... Australian gold rushes of the nineteenth century . Most dictionaries published outside Australia and New Zealand are ...
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... Australian- only in that country , after all , does one find kangaroos . But the term is definitely American , with no known links to Australia apart from the animal's name . What's more , the early history of the term is almost totally ...
... Australian- only in that country , after all , does one find kangaroos . But the term is definitely American , with no known links to Australia apart from the animal's name . What's more , the early history of the term is almost totally ...
Other editions - View all
Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins Michael Quinion Limited preview - 2006 |
Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins Michael Quinion No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
abbreviation acronym actually applied associated Australian Barry Popik became borrowed brass brass monkey Britain British called card shark certainly comes common confusion connection corruption dates derives devil dialect drink Dutch eighteenth century Eric Partridge etymologists etymology explain expression famous folk etymology French word full monty Gerald Cohen German idea invented Irish Italian jazz kangaroo known language later Latin literally London looks meaning meant medieval newspaper nickname nineteenth century Old English Old French older one's origin Oxford English Dictionary perhaps person phrase plausible popular posh recorded reference rhyming slang Scots Second World War seems seventeenth century ship sixteenth century slang term sometimes sort Spanish spelling square story suggested supposedly sure teetotally theory there's no evidence Thomas Crapper tion told turned usually verb widely word history World Wide Words writers York