As the world changes, so does language . . . An A-to-Z guide to expressions from yesteryear that are becoming increasingly scarce.
“Person to person” (and “station to station”), “bar sinister,” “the weed of crime bears bitter fruit,” “between the devil and the deep blue sea,” “will o’ the wisp,” “poor as Job’s turkey” . . . these are just a few phrases that were once part of everyday speech. However, due to the evolving nature of language and numerous cultural changes, there are hundreds of phrases poised on the brink of extinction.
Can such endangered phrases be saved? Steven D. Price, award-winning author and keen observer of the passing linguistic scene, answers in this challenging and captivating compilation filled with definitions and discussions of the history behind the phrases. It is sure to increase your appreciation of the English language’s ebb and flow—and enhance your own vocabulary along the way.
