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Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past
Too often, when struggling to find just the right turn of phrase, exclamation of joy, or witty barb, it's easy to forget that history is positively brimming with rich words deserving of rejuvenation. Lesley M. M. Blume gathers forgotten words, phrases, names, insults, and idioms, plus fascinating and funny anecdotes, etymologies, and occasions for use. Let's Bring The Lost Language Edition takes readers on a philological journey through words from the not-too-distant past. From all-overish to zounds, the vintage vernacular collected here will make any reader the cat's meow among friends, relations, and acquaintances.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
170 people are currently reading
916 people want to read
About the author
Lesley M.M. Blume
17 books187 followersLesley M. M. Blume is an author, columnist and journalist. She did her undergraduate work at WIlliams College and Oxford University, and took her graduate degree in history from Cambridge University.
She now regularly contributes to Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal and Departures magazine.
She now regularly contributes to Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal and Departures magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 25, 2013
Rating: 5* of five
***I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway; the publisher made no request that I write a review***
The Publisher Says: Too often, when struggling to find just the right turn of phrase, exclamation of joy, or witty barb, it's easy to forget that history is positively brimming with rich words deserving of rejuvenation. Lesley M. M. Blume gathers forgotten words, phrases, names, insults, and idioms, plus fascinating and funny anecdotes, etymologies, and occasions for use. Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition takes readers on a philological journey through words from the not-too-distant past. From all-overish to zounds, the vintage vernacular collected here will make any reader the cat's meow among friends, relations, and acquaintances.
My Review: I've mentioned earlier that I am a fan of browser-books. I think most people who've read a few of my reviews will sense that I'm a wordnik. I collect and treasure weird and wonderful words, and colorful turns of phrase, and I enjoy using them all.
Along comes this beautiful, beautiful package of browsing delights, many new to me (which is quite an achievement since I have so many of this kind of book) and many old friends, presented in the best possible way to please my aesthetic.
The case is printed in three colors, purple, green, and black; it is beautifully composed, with a very William-Morris-wallpaper overall design, a blind-stamped decorative double cartouche, and type!, and charmingly Victorian illustration of a typewriter.
The requisite bar code and sales bunf is printed on a band slipped around the back board. The endsheets are printed in the case's green color, at its most intense saturation used in the book; the front endsheet has a printed "ex libris" that made me chuckle: "Darling, Please...don't forget to bring back this book."
The text is printed in two colors, with multiple small and fine design elements in screens of the black and orange used. There is not one register problem that I could find, and I looked. It's a seamless and charming presentation that enhances the exuberantly recherché compendium of these glorious nuggets of expression.
So the publisher is sending a signal by making these choices, that the contents of the book so charmingly and carefully designed are to be valued and given attention to; the presentation isn't merely informative, though it is that, it's also visually arresting and enhances the message being delivered. Things material need not be uniformly, grimly, boringly samey-samey. Make your choice for the colorful, and it will be rewarded.
The words and phrases themselves? How about "kicksy-wicksy" (agreeably drunk), "chickabiddy" (young girl), "rinky-dink" (shabby or insignificant)? It's a small sampling, but it shows you what the author is about. She wants Norma Loquendi to take back the colorful and the powerful and the expressive from the gray, grim grip of PC and dumbed-down dimness of Bureaucratical Babble.
There are two other volumes in this series of wonderful compendia: Let's Bring Back (calling cards! cuckoo clocks!) and Let's Bring Back: The Cocktail Edition (the Angel's Tit will henceforth be my go-to order in bars). Clearly Blume and I are soul siblings. She says out loud, to a large (I hope) bookbuying audience, what I grouse about in my red leather wingback over scotch and sodas. Bless you, good Madam. I am your devoted acquaintance, aspiring to friendhood.
This review first appeared at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
***I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway; the publisher made no request that I write a review***
The Publisher Says: Too often, when struggling to find just the right turn of phrase, exclamation of joy, or witty barb, it's easy to forget that history is positively brimming with rich words deserving of rejuvenation. Lesley M. M. Blume gathers forgotten words, phrases, names, insults, and idioms, plus fascinating and funny anecdotes, etymologies, and occasions for use. Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition takes readers on a philological journey through words from the not-too-distant past. From all-overish to zounds, the vintage vernacular collected here will make any reader the cat's meow among friends, relations, and acquaintances.
My Review: I've mentioned earlier that I am a fan of browser-books. I think most people who've read a few of my reviews will sense that I'm a wordnik. I collect and treasure weird and wonderful words, and colorful turns of phrase, and I enjoy using them all.
Along comes this beautiful, beautiful package of browsing delights, many new to me (which is quite an achievement since I have so many of this kind of book) and many old friends, presented in the best possible way to please my aesthetic.
The case is printed in three colors, purple, green, and black; it is beautifully composed, with a very William-Morris-wallpaper overall design, a blind-stamped decorative double cartouche, and type!, and charmingly Victorian illustration of a typewriter.
The requisite bar code and sales bunf is printed on a band slipped around the back board. The endsheets are printed in the case's green color, at its most intense saturation used in the book; the front endsheet has a printed "ex libris" that made me chuckle: "Darling, Please...don't forget to bring back this book."
The text is printed in two colors, with multiple small and fine design elements in screens of the black and orange used. There is not one register problem that I could find, and I looked. It's a seamless and charming presentation that enhances the exuberantly recherché compendium of these glorious nuggets of expression.
So the publisher is sending a signal by making these choices, that the contents of the book so charmingly and carefully designed are to be valued and given attention to; the presentation isn't merely informative, though it is that, it's also visually arresting and enhances the message being delivered. Things material need not be uniformly, grimly, boringly samey-samey. Make your choice for the colorful, and it will be rewarded.
The words and phrases themselves? How about "kicksy-wicksy" (agreeably drunk), "chickabiddy" (young girl), "rinky-dink" (shabby or insignificant)? It's a small sampling, but it shows you what the author is about. She wants Norma Loquendi to take back the colorful and the powerful and the expressive from the gray, grim grip of PC and dumbed-down dimness of Bureaucratical Babble.
There are two other volumes in this series of wonderful compendia: Let's Bring Back (calling cards! cuckoo clocks!) and Let's Bring Back: The Cocktail Edition (the Angel's Tit will henceforth be my go-to order in bars). Clearly Blume and I are soul siblings. She says out loud, to a large (I hope) bookbuying audience, what I grouse about in my red leather wingback over scotch and sodas. Bless you, good Madam. I am your devoted acquaintance, aspiring to friendhood.
This review first appeared at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
September 30, 2024
While I was definitely very much looking forward to reading Lesley M.M. Blume's Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past (as reference books on language and word usage are amongst my favourite non-fiction indulgences), I have to categorically state and admit that I have been sadly and massively frustrated and disappointed.
For one, while Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past certainly does present a plethora of interesting and fun words, idiomatic expressions and the like, the author's claim that ALL of these are supposedly forgotten and no longer in current use is at best rather misleading and at worst simply not at all the truth (since not only am I personally familiar with the vast majority of the presented and featured inclusions but I also do indeed make regular use of many of them in my day-to-day conversations as well as in my written correspondences). And for two, while for some of the words shown and described in Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past, Lesley M.M. Blume does at least provide a bit of etymological background details, for the lion's share (and yes, I am deliberately using one of the included expressions here to show that very many of the supposedly forgotten and no longer in use idioms etc. are indeed and in fact still common and known) there generally is no or at best only annoyingly scant linguistic background and etymological details provided.
Combined with the fact that Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past also includes no separate bibliography with suggestions for further reading, I really can only (and with much personal annoyance) consider a one star rating at best (because Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past has simply and absolutely not at all been what I both expected and wanted, and basically, for the money I spent purchasing this book, it has really and sadly been a complete and majorly frustrating waste of my precious reading time).
For one, while Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past certainly does present a plethora of interesting and fun words, idiomatic expressions and the like, the author's claim that ALL of these are supposedly forgotten and no longer in current use is at best rather misleading and at worst simply not at all the truth (since not only am I personally familiar with the vast majority of the presented and featured inclusions but I also do indeed make regular use of many of them in my day-to-day conversations as well as in my written correspondences). And for two, while for some of the words shown and described in Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past, Lesley M.M. Blume does at least provide a bit of etymological background details, for the lion's share (and yes, I am deliberately using one of the included expressions here to show that very many of the supposedly forgotten and no longer in use idioms etc. are indeed and in fact still common and known) there generally is no or at best only annoyingly scant linguistic background and etymological details provided.
Combined with the fact that Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past also includes no separate bibliography with suggestions for further reading, I really can only (and with much personal annoyance) consider a one star rating at best (because Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition: A Collection of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful Words, Phrases, Praises, Insults, Idioms, and Literary Flourishes from Eras Past has simply and absolutely not at all been what I both expected and wanted, and basically, for the money I spent purchasing this book, it has really and sadly been a complete and majorly frustrating waste of my precious reading time).
April 23, 2022
This book on lost words (author’s term) is light but pleasant. I would check it out from the library and decide if you really need it in your collection because it doesn’t necessarily have lasting value as a reference book and doesn’t even add up as far as the author’s claims.
Blume says her aim in collecting these words and phrases is to restore words no longer understood or in use, in other words “Let’s Bring Back.” I love reading about language and agree that many of her selections are useful or fun, but have they really disappeared? For the most part they are still around for anyone over 25 who has read a book or watched a cartoon.
The author often gives no history or explanation for a word. That would have helped with some words in question. “On the horn” doesn’t make much sense to someone who has never seen an old tabletop telephone. The hand held part is horn shaped, thus if you are talking on the phone you are on the horn. It would be interesting to know the background of the word “nosh”— none given.
I’d argue that “peabrain” “pinhead” “pizzazz” and many other examples are perfectly understandable and still in common use. OK, “firkytoodle” “mundungus” and “rakeshame” not so much. Is “huzzah” really wanted back in daily use again? Questionable.
Now, “owl-light” (for dusk) that should be brought back!
Blume says her aim in collecting these words and phrases is to restore words no longer understood or in use, in other words “Let’s Bring Back.” I love reading about language and agree that many of her selections are useful or fun, but have they really disappeared? For the most part they are still around for anyone over 25 who has read a book or watched a cartoon.
The author often gives no history or explanation for a word. That would have helped with some words in question. “On the horn” doesn’t make much sense to someone who has never seen an old tabletop telephone. The hand held part is horn shaped, thus if you are talking on the phone you are on the horn. It would be interesting to know the background of the word “nosh”— none given.
I’d argue that “peabrain” “pinhead” “pizzazz” and many other examples are perfectly understandable and still in common use. OK, “firkytoodle” “mundungus” and “rakeshame” not so much. Is “huzzah” really wanted back in daily use again? Questionable.
Now, “owl-light” (for dusk) that should be brought back!
November 28, 2014
If you were a child of the 90s, most of these words you heard on Nickelodeon, repeats of Looney Tunes and old shows on Nick At Nite. I feel like this is a case of the author underestimating her audience.
Very disappointing. Most of these words and expressions I still hear and see in common use both among family members, friends, and in media. It wasn't completely devoid of new material for me and some of it gave background information on phrases I already knew but I bought this expecting archaic and dead phrases and words ala The Word Museum or Forgotten English. I can't say it was worth the money I paid for it. It is a nicely put together book, very pretty and such, but ultimately a let down.
Very disappointing. Most of these words and expressions I still hear and see in common use both among family members, friends, and in media. It wasn't completely devoid of new material for me and some of it gave background information on phrases I already knew but I bought this expecting archaic and dead phrases and words ala The Word Museum or Forgotten English. I can't say it was worth the money I paid for it. It is a nicely put together book, very pretty and such, but ultimately a let down.
July 26, 2016
Cute idea, but I use a good number of these words included. It's scarcely the "Lost Language" edition if many of the words are still familiar.
March 22, 2015
I was disappointed with this book. I expected interesting facts about why certain phrases came to be, and when they were commonly used. This book does have some of that. But I felt that many of the words and phrases it included are still commonly used, or at least known to many people, like the word "classy" for instance. Some definitions were very poor and did little to explain a word's meaning.
July 16, 2019
The construction of the book is beautiful. I love the cover. I love the colors, the embossing, the typeset, everything on the cover. I love that it’s got a ribbon bookmark. Unfortunately the inside art appears to be comprised of clip art.
I expected to love the book, but I didn’t. I am familiar with most of the terms here, and frequently use many of them. It is not a collection of lost language. Also I find that the choice of phrases themselves is just not that interesting to me. The information about the phrases is not particularly interesting or entertaining. I was very disappointed.
On the positive side, I read a lot of cozy mysteries that are set in World War II and before, and I think some of these words may be used in those books, so it’s helpful that there is a reference for them. I also want to thank the author because I have always wanted to know what it means to say that something is “stuck in my craw“. According to this book a craw is a stomach and so it means something you cannot digest (accept) easily.
I expected to love the book, but I didn’t. I am familiar with most of the terms here, and frequently use many of them. It is not a collection of lost language. Also I find that the choice of phrases themselves is just not that interesting to me. The information about the phrases is not particularly interesting or entertaining. I was very disappointed.
On the positive side, I read a lot of cozy mysteries that are set in World War II and before, and I think some of these words may be used in those books, so it’s helpful that there is a reference for them. I also want to thank the author because I have always wanted to know what it means to say that something is “stuck in my craw“. According to this book a craw is a stomach and so it means something you cannot digest (accept) easily.
January 12, 2015
A lot of fun, and very interesting. The book is exactly what the subtitle says it is, a dictionary of archaic words and phrases. Many were no doubt cliches in their time, but with disuse they sound fresh and conjure vivid images today. I got this to use as a writing reference, but it would be a pleasure to read for its own sake.
It is a tad humbling, however, to realize that I was around when a fair number of these bits of language weren't obsolete yet!
It is a tad humbling, however, to realize that I was around when a fair number of these bits of language weren't obsolete yet!
February 1, 2015
I wasn't over the moon about this book simply because A LOT of the words and phrases are ones I not only hear but do still use on a regular basis. Something I didn't care for in the book was the author's tone. Not likely to pick up another of her books despite my interest in words, phrases and all things of days past.
January 13, 2019
I was hoping for a little more explanation, detail, source of origin, etc. Author tries to be witty and clever, but that left me indifferent.
This was a gift, but I doubt if I will keep as a reference book in my personal library.
This was a gift, but I doubt if I will keep as a reference book in my personal library.
May 17, 2023
This book is an entertaining light read perfect to peruse after checking it out from a library, as Pam said. Her review is pretty comprehensive but I had a few similar observations. First, many a word did not appear to be nearly as in disuse as I expected based on the title, with almost every fourth still carving places for themselves in everyday vocabulary, like "buzz off" or "simpleton." I would love to see a revised version of this book or a sequel looking at how some words have come back into fashion in one way or another, such as fiend being used as a verb meaning to obsess over something or indulge in it excessively, stemming from that use of fiend as a noun. Overall, a light read with a few too many still applicable words for my taste.
February 18, 2020
La edición preciosa pero no me ha servido nada :(
January 12, 2024
Lost language? Only if you consider phrases found today in books, movies, and England "lost". (The use of holiday instead of vacation is in here?? That's just British English!) There's some cool old slang that I haven't heard of, but at least half are in modern use. I don't get it. Was this written on a tight deadline and the author was scrambling to fill space?
February 20, 2013
The latest from long time contributing style editor of the Huffington Post , Lesley M. M. Blume. This book will have you recollecting your favourite forgotten words, phrases, names and facts. Preparing you to shine at your next social gathering with fast-talking, vintage inspired conversation!
January 15, 2018
Want to feel special without being special at all? Here is the book for you. From somebody who scavenged all over the blogs about exotic expressions. He would even speculate about the origin.
January 1, 2024
Solid meh. Great idea but I would say at least 1/2 if not more of the words and phrases are still in frequent/casual use so not quite as presented.
January 12, 2018
This was a delightful little collection of old words and phrases. As Blume mentions in the intro, not all of these are *extinct* sayings. Many of them are simply endangered. Indeed, though I've heard many, there were few that I feel like I hear with any kind of regularity.
My one complaint was that a few of the words don't have a proper definition given, or even a good example sentence. They do that thing where you basically use the word to define itself, assuming that the audience already understands the meaning of the word, I suppose.
My favorite old word to bring back? "Masher," a man who thought himself irresistible to the female sex but whose advances were often unwelcome. Why is there no current word for this? Better bring it back!
My one complaint was that a few of the words don't have a proper definition given, or even a good example sentence. They do that thing where you basically use the word to define itself, assuming that the audience already understands the meaning of the word, I suppose.
My favorite old word to bring back? "Masher," a man who thought himself irresistible to the female sex but whose advances were often unwelcome. Why is there no current word for this? Better bring it back!
April 5, 2019
Fun little book if you like to know word meanings. Although I knew many of the "lost" words, I learned some new ones. For instance, although I knew that "dough" was slang for money, I did not know that "sourdough" was slang for counterfeit money. The book explains words like dandiprat, jingle-brains, and scofflaw.
December 21, 2020
This book was a quick fun read, I only gave it four stars because there were a couple of words that didn’t age well, and probably SHOULDN’T be brought back. I also wish that it had discussed the origins of more of the words. But it was really fun, and I’m only going to refer to my legs as ‘gams’ or ‘drumsticks’ from now on.
February 26, 2023
This is a smart little collection of words put together with words and phrases used. Some of the vocabulary still in use and some not. Not too much on the origins, just a simple explanation and sometimes examples. Too much white space on the pages, so when using the poppycock font enlarge it!
March 27, 2017
I was surprised and annoyed that I knew most of the entries. An entertaining light read.
December 7, 2018
Frolicking in Phrases
Great history in the etymology of old phrases and words. Very enlightening and fun. Really laughed at some of the phrases!
Great history in the etymology of old phrases and words. Very enlightening and fun. Really laughed at some of the phrases!
July 24, 2019
A lot of words I already knew, and some fun new phrases! Might not improve your vocabulary, but you'll certainly have more to talk about.
March 18, 2022
I love this book 😂 I'll be incorporating collywobbles into my vocabulary from now on
October 11, 2022
A lovely collection of forgotten words and quirky phrases that tickle the ear and the mind.
March 4, 2025
I love anything to do with language, idioms, and etymology.
dnf
June 3, 2025CHISELER sounds like it'd go so well with rizzler.
August 4, 2025
1.5 stars. At least half of these are still widely known and little used because they are so well known they are cliched.
September 5, 2025
I found this interesting, and the author's comments are often enjoyable.
June 12, 2013
When I saw this book in the giveaways I was very excited. The subject matter is right up my alley. I personally love having a vast and diverse vocabulary and am thrilled when I can use less common words and phrases in everyday conversations and communications. So when I won the First Reads giveaway, I was thrilled and ready to increase my vocabulary with all sorts have rare and spunky words.
The book was a very quick read. It only took me a few hours to complete it. Overall I would say there are approximately 1,050 words provided. Out of that number, I would say that I already use at least 63 of the words (6% of the words provided) in my daily conversations, and I plan on adding 113 words (10.76% of the words provided) to my repertoire. The other 874 words (83.24% of the words provided), in my opinion, can stay forgotten. I did not find the collection of words to be delightful at all and due to this I am extremely disappointed with the book. I really expected the collection of words to be more interesting and better sounding. At the end of the day though, I am happy that I rediscovered 113 words.
The book was a very quick read. It only took me a few hours to complete it. Overall I would say there are approximately 1,050 words provided. Out of that number, I would say that I already use at least 63 of the words (6% of the words provided) in my daily conversations, and I plan on adding 113 words (10.76% of the words provided) to my repertoire. The other 874 words (83.24% of the words provided), in my opinion, can stay forgotten. I did not find the collection of words to be delightful at all and due to this I am extremely disappointed with the book. I really expected the collection of words to be more interesting and better sounding. At the end of the day though, I am happy that I rediscovered 113 words.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews