Most Comprehensive Origins of Cliches, Proverbs and Figurative Expressions

I always enjoy the meaning behind popular sayings and this book is loaded.

I've just received my paperback copy, which will reside next to my copy of "The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms" and "Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary"; it's of that caliber of works. I'm a multi-decade fan of idiomatic English, English usage, figures of speech, clichés, and their derivations. This is the author's allegedly "Final Edition", in which he combines his previous 2 versions with new entries. I won't attest to the comparable quantites of entries, nor the amount of repetitive coverage, versus the AHDI book. However, so far, my limited comparisons have favored the tendency for larger, broader descriptions per entry in this St. Clair book, although with seemingly fewer entries than the AHDI. I preferred this book's treatment of "Rule of Thumb" to the AHDI's entry; however, this book had no entry for "In your face", which the AHDI book includes. Nevertheless, the different approaches combine to increase information about the entries that both contain. This is a handy, informative addition to my books on English Usage. I'll reach for it often.

To use one of his many idioms, I have a `bone to pick' with Stan St Clair because ever since I received a copy of his book (or should that be a tome because it runs to over 700 pages) I have spent all my time devouring the many clichés, proverbs and figurative expressions which it contains.It is truly a comprehensive work and, although not a novel, it is just as compelling as any thriller because, apart from looking for one's favourite expressions (in the forlorn hope that Stan may have missed one out) there are thousands of quotations which serve to underscore the richness of the English language and to explain how it has evolved and changed over the centuries..If you decide to buy the "Origins of Cliches, Proverbs and Figurative Expressions" you will never regret that decision because it will give you another bible (in the original sense of that word) in your home - a bible which will enrich your understanding of a language which has now become the diplomatic lingua franca in every country in the World.This is a book which deserves to be in every home. It is a unique reference work. It now has pride of place in my library. I hope it will soon be in yours.Niven Sinclair

This is exactly the reference book I wanted to add to my library. I am in the transcription business and often need to check a phrase for accuracy and often its origin. There are so many phrases and origins. Well, done.NOTE TO THE AUTHOR: STANLEY, if you are reading the reviews, please note, can you add: "Proof is in the Pudding" or "Proof is in the Putting" in your next update. I believe it is "pudding" but the internet is often an unreliable source.

These three volumes are exhaustive and as comprehensive as you’ll find. Well written, well presented, and a lot of fun. Thank you!

A few years ago I began jotting down phrases that people said and the context in which they used them. It amazes me how many cliches and idioms we use daily without really thinking about where they originated, or in some cases, what the expressions actually mean. After having purchased Mr. St. Clair's first book on this subject and finding so much useful information, I felt that this new, larger work would offer an even greater look into this fascinating topic. I was certainly not disappointed. So much work and research went into this book that it is difficult to even fathom. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the development of our language and the many ways that we sprinkle our speech with metaphors.

I am disappointed to be honest and I do not like to be negative about things. I guess I was hoping for a large book of where very common words originated or funny/interesting stories about how a saying/word you hear all of the time came to be used in everyday conversations. Like that police are called cops from copper from the large copper buttons in their uniforms they used to wear in the old days. That is an interesting story and one you will remember.This book seems more geared to scholars than a regular guy like me. I have seen some pretty good books out there that have a handful of interesting stories about how a saying came to be but I wanted a book of hundreds of those in one coffee table book. This book has hundreds of explanations but not what I was looking for unfortunately.I am not saying this is a bad book at all but it was not what I was expecting or even close to what I had hoped it would be.

Wanted the etimology or how expressions came to be. Instead 90% of the expressions are the result of research about when they were first found. I dont really care about how long a cliche or saying has been around; I want to know HOW it came to be used. "A stitch in time saves nine"- Clever; what's the story? From this book you will not find who originated it or how it originated, you will read when the author could find it first used in print. Who cares? About ten percent of the entries have the actual explanation of how the saying came to be. Waste of money.

Very informative

クリーシェ、諺、比喩的表現の句源辞典である。この種の辞典は多数出ているが小型辞典だと引いても見出し語になくてがっかりすることが多い。本書は739頁もあり見出し語も2000余りある。引いてがっかりという可能性は低いだろう。一つだけ紹介しょう。Stab someone in the backは文字通りには「人を背後から刺す」であり比ゆ的には「裏切る」である。裏切り(betrayal)で真っ先に思い浮かぶのは銀貨30枚でイエスを裏切ったとされるユダ(Judas)である。文字通り「背後から刺し」「裏切った」のはShakespeare のJulius Cesar に出てくるブルータス（Brutus）であるという。やはり聖書とShakespeare は英語表現をより深く知るうえで必須であることを、本書をあちこち引いてみて改めて痛感した。句源に関心のある人にお勧めする。