The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread: Cliches: What they Mean and Where they Came From

by Nigel Fountain

This entertaining book takes an in-depth look at hundreds of common expressions in their many forms—where they came from, what they mean, how they’ve evolved over time, and their prominence in today’s society.

Clichés, those trite little phrases that often get a point across quickly and efficiently, have become such a familiar part of the English language and people’s everyday speech. This entertaining book takes an in-depth look at hundreds of these common expressions in their many forms—where they came from, what they mean, how they’ve evolved over time, and their prominence in today’s society.   Inside you’ll discover hundreds explored and explained, such as...  

·        “Thinking outside the box”

·        “All hands on deck”

·        “My way or the highway”

·        “To be perfectly honest”

·        Technical terms, like “collateral damage” and “pushing the envelope”

·        And many others!

 

            You’ll quickly discover why this fun little compendium is truly the best thing since sliced bread!

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2012

Reviews

[Gabriel Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative, short read. Although it strayed a bit too far into talking about current politics (as of the publishing of the book, which was 2012) when it's supposed to be about a book on cliches. The author also kept badmouthing Sarah Palin, which was annoying, while seemingly mourning Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2008 primaries (again, this not a book on politics). The author can have his own opinion, but it started to seem inappropriate when he kept inserting his political preferences in a book about cliches every chance he got and places where the examples didn't have any real relevance.

[Ariadna73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting little book that delivers on its promise: it explains the origins and most common usages of the cliches we know, such as "to be absolutely clear", or "rain check", which was new for me :) I liked it and thanked it expeditious ways. Great reading.

[sarefo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some slightly interesting historical background, but a persistent negative soundtrack of a language maven's mind that I perceived as really off-putting.