A Dictionary of Euphemisms - Couverture souple

Holder, R.W.

 
9780192800510: A Dictionary of Euphemisms
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 0192800515 ISBN 13 : 9780192800510
Editeur : Oxford Paperbacks, 1997

Synopsis

Investigating the human tendency to prefer mild, vague or roundabout expressions rather than use words which are blunt, precise, and disagreeably true, this book unmasks the language of prudery, evasion, and deceit, while showing how not to say what you really mean. Why else do people say "bijou", 'house of ill repute", and "corporate entertainment", when what they really mean is "inconveniently small", "brothel", and "bribery"? A survey of our linguistic idiosyncracies, the dictionary includes thousands of definitions, quotations, derivations, and historical explanations and a thematic index for quick and easy reference.

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Présentation de l'éditeur

This brand new edition celebrating 20 years of R. W. Holder's popular and successful dictionary of euphemisms is packed full of traditional favourites, such as 'Dutch uncle' or 'push up the daisies', as well as euphemisms from the contemporary world such as 'restructuring', 'coffee-housing', 'extrajudicial killing'. Definitions include examples from real authors, along with entertaining explanations of their origins. To prove that the use of euphemisms is not just a British speciality, there is widespread coverage of American euphemisms, too: for example, 'English' (pertaining to sexual deviance) and 'watermelon' (an indication of pregnancy). The A-Z organization of the text is complemented by a thematic index with short introductory articles on fruitful areas of euphemistic language such as business, sex, death, and the human body. This book remains the most lively and authoritative guide to the language of evasion, hypocrisy, prudery, and deceit.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Oxford Paperbacks
Date d'édition
1997
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0192800515
ISBN 13 
9780192800510
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
490
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
Ufficio Anagrafiche Messaggerie
ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it

Via Verdi, 8
Assago Milano
20090
Italie

Autres éditions populaires du même titre

9780198692751: A Dictionary of Euphemisms

Edition présentée

ISBN 10 :  0198692757 ISBN 13 :  9780198692751
Editeur : Oxford University Press, 1995
Couverture rigide