As Right as Rain: The Meaning and Origins of Popular Expressions

by Caroline Taggart

If asked, off the cuff, to unravel the many unusual and vibrant phrases that adorn our language, most of us wouldn't have a cat in hell's chance - but we'd do our level best.

In this collection, however, bestselling author Caroline Taggart gets down to the nitty-gritty on the quirky expressions that we use in everyday speech - drumming up an insight into their origins and meanings, and opening up a world of old chestnuts, cold turkeys, and crocodile tears.

With more phrases than you can shake a stick at, this collection will bring home the bacon for any Tom, Dick, or Harry with a love of language.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2013

About the author

I was an editor for 30 years before Michael O’Mara Books asked me to write what became I Used to Know That. I think its success took everyone by surprise – it certainly did me – but it led to my writing a lot of other books and finally, after about three years, feeling able to tell people I was an author. It's a nice feeling.

Until recently the book I was most proud of was The Book of London Place Names (Ebury), partly because I am passionate about London and partly because, having written ten or so books before that, I finally felt I was getting the hang of it.

Now I have to confess I’m really excited by my first venture into continuous narrative. For A Slice of Britain: around the country by cake (AA) I travelled the country investigating, writing about and eating cake. From Cornish Saffron Cake to Aberdeen Butteries, I interviewed about 25 people who are baking cakes, biscuits and buns that are unique to their region, part of their heritage – and pretty darned delicious. The Sunday Times reviewed it and described me as ‘engaging, greedy and droll’, which pleased me enormously.

Reviews

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I love words! And phrases and weird things people say......it all fascinates me! This does not quite reach the dizzy heights of The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language orThe Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language - an enchanted week when I read those! but all the same, this book is like a meal of choice morsels to me!

[Shriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Carolines writing style, there were parts that made me: laugh, learn and ponder.

I will be reading more of Taggarts work.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read better. One to keep in the guest bathroom

[Soobie is expired · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as bathroom readings are concerned, this one was dull. I thought it would be fun learning about popular English expressions I could use during my review. Sadly this wasn't the case.

But as a bathroom reading it was perfect: it's made for being read in bits and pieces.

I fear that the book is made for British readers because there are too many references to British facts. In addition, as a foreigner, I had my share of difficulties when it came to read the definitions: the author would often used another expression to give a definition of a phrase and it made things difficult for me to read. I mean, this is a bathroom reading: I didn't have a dictionary handy.

I wasn't a fan of the comment that the author made throughout the book. But, again, maybe it's British humor.

I didn't like the illustration, either.

Let's hope my next bathroom reading is more interesting that this one.