The Play of Words
by Richard Lederer
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Description
Do you know the connection between the expression A HARROWING EXPERIENCE and agriculture, between BY AND LARGE and sailing, between GET YOUR GOAT and horses, or between STEAL YOUR THUNDER and show business? You probably have heard the comparisons HAPPY AS A CLAM, SMART AS A WHIP, PLEASED AS PUNCH, DEAD AS A DOORNAIL - but have you ever wondered why a clam should be happy, a whip smart, punch pleased, and a doornail dead? By playing the fifty games in this book, youll discover the answers to show more these questions as well as hundreds of other semantic delights that repose in our marvelous English language. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Came across this at a used and rare book store yesterday- what a gem! I just started looking at this one. I love Richard Lederer. I remember growing up reading his columns in the newspaper. His writing is witty, clever, full of interesting etymology, word plays, and as someone said, semantic antics. .. And of course puns! Anyone interested in linguistics, etymology, word plays, etc., should read this book! It's lots of fun.
Wonderful book by a funny and erudite guy. Love words? Love this!
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Author Information
59+ Works 5,046 Members
Richard Lederer, the well-known wordsmith, originally intended to practice medicine. He entered Haverford College as a pre-medical student, but when he realized that he was more interested in the textbooks' language than their substance, he switched his major to English. He next attended Harvard Law School, but again switched majors--this time show more entering Harvard's Master of Arts and Teaching program. After graduation, he taught English and media at St. Paul's School, in Concord, N.H., for 27 years. Upon earning his Ph.D. in English and Linguistics from the University of New Hampshire, he decided to pursue a career writing books on the English language. His first book, Anguished English, was a popular success and launched his career. His books, newspaper columns, and speaking engagements have allowed Lederer, in his own words, "to extend my mission of teachership." Lederer describes himself as a "verbivore" - one who consumes words. He says, "Carnivores eat meat; herbivores eat plants and vegetables; verbivores devour words." His fascination with word play (particularly, palindromes and puns) resulted in his nicknames--"Attila the Pun" and "Conan the Grammarian." (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Alternate titles
- Fun and Games for Language Lovers
- Original publication date
- 1990
- Dedication
- To all the games people in my life - my tennis buddies, my card buddies, and my word buddies
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 329
- Popularity
- 96,260
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.89)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 2
