Flying by the Seat of Your Pants: Surprising Origins of Everyday Expressions

by Harry Oliver

Let's "cut to the chase" and "make no bones about it"-this book will have you "pleased as punch."

Sowing your wild oats, throwing in the towel, painting the town red...Harry Oliver reveals the fascinating stories behind these and other strange turns of phrase steeped in the weird and wonderful history and traditions of everyday life. From quirky terms to street and city names and more, this book answers the questions you never thought to ask.

? What ancient empire coined the phrase "green with envy"?
? Who was the first person to "get someone's goat"?
? Which writer first penned, "I'll eat my hat!"

Genres: Nonfiction, Language

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2011

Reviews

[heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.5 stars.

Interesting and enjoyable though I didn't dig all the jokes / puns. It's a decent collection of English expressions from the UK, USA, and even Australia… some I already knew including their origins, some I learned for the first time.

Not sure why the author would include the few in this book that he couldn't explain etymologically.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book for my dad who sits in my recliner and reads books 90% of the time when he's at my home. He has enjoyed it and often reads some of the originations out loud to us.
Overall, it's a fun and interesting read.

[Bladestryke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting. It's a mix of English and American English and you'd be surprised at some of the meanings of your favorite phrases. A pretty fun read!

[Cathy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love language. I love slang and colloquialisms, so it's no surprise that I looked forward to reading this book with a great deal of anticipation.

Flying by the Seat of Your Pants is a good, solid gathering of everyday expressions for a beginner. For someone who's more conversant with expressions and their origins, there's not going to be much that's new although it may be fun to touch base again with old favorites and realize that your memory's still in good shape.

I do have one word of warning for potential readers. The author, Harry Oliver, is British; therefore, many of these everyday expressions have their origins in the UK. For Anglophiles like me, this is no problem, but for those who aren't interested in how folks across the pond speak, they may want to give this compilation a miss. (On the other hand, why not broaden your knowledge a bit?)

[Maria Gebhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever wonder where statements such as head over heels or right as rain come from? In this book, Harry Oliver explains where phrases that are part of everyday conversation originated.

With historical references and interesting stories, Oliver breaks down the meaning of the phrases and shares important points.

If you have ever used pleased as punch, tempest in a teapot, or happy as a Larry – you’ll enjoy this quick read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a devout linguaphile, so I enjoy each of Mr. Oliver's collections. I will probably not be able to remember all of the suggested etymologies of these words/phrases, but some will doubtlessly stick in my brain.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I didn't know that the author is British. There were a few entries that I have never heard of.

[Skye]

quick and fun snippets!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it.

[Cathyg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to see where a lot of the words and phrases we use came from.

[Lanelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny book that looks at the origins of many phrases we use now a days.