2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings and Expressions from White Elephants to a Song & Dance

by Charles Earle Funk, Tom Funk (Illustrator)

Why do people "take 40 winks" and not 50...or 60, or 70? Did someone literally "let the cat out of the bag" at one point in time? Has anyone actually "gone on a wild goose chase"? Find out the answers to these questions and many more in this enormous collection, comprised of four bestselling A Hog on Ice, Thereby Hangs a Tale, Heavens to Betsy! and Horsefeathers and Other Curious Words. Dr. Funk, editor-in-chief of the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary Series, reveals the sometimes surprising, often amusing, and always fascinating roots of more than 2,000 vernacular words and expressions. From "kangaroo court" to "one-horse town", from "face the music" to "hocus-pocus," it's an entertaining linguistic journey.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Language, Trivia, Linguistics

988 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1993

About the author

Charles Earle Funk (1881–1957) was an American lexicographer.[1][2][3] He was a member of the Funk family who owned the publisher Funk & Wagnalls; Dr. Isaac Funk was his uncle.[4]

Funk wrote several etymological dictionaries, including Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins, A Hog On Ice & Other Curious Expressions, Heavens To Betsy & Other Curious Expressions, Horsefeathers and Other Curious Words, and 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions: From White Elephants to Song & Dance.

Reviews

[Ana Mardoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings, & Expressions / 0-88365-845-3

This book is fun for both reading from cover-to-cover and skimming as "bathroom material". The expressions are explained in plain, straightforward descriptions, with the author engagingly outlining the origins and usage of each unusual word or phrase.

I didn't recognize all of the phrases in this huge tome - some of them seem a little old, out-dated, or perhaps just not native to my region, like "hog on ice"! - but many of the words and phrases are so familiar that I was startled to realize that I'd never even bothered to wonder where they had come from before now. "Juggernaut" would be a good example: would you like to know where that word came from? Mr. Funk is here to save the day!

I love this book as a great resource for seeing the evolution of common words and terms. While most of this can probably be found online nowadays, you're unlikely to find them all compiled together in such an easily browsed source. I will admit that this probably isn't a cover-to-cover read, but it is useful for looking up terms and fun for browsing on a lazy afternoon.

~ Ana Mardoll

[Heather the Banjo Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reference of many great sayings and expressions that make you scratch your head. Each saying/expression gets its own little paragraph of explanation and very short history, if there is any to be had. I love words and sayings and language in general and this lends itself to all three.

On a completely different note, I would love it if someone would collect the sayings that have come out of the American South and put it in a book like this. Is there already one out there? Anyone?

[Craig Leimkuehler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably the worst reference book I have ever come across. This is, in fact, four books, lumped together. “A Hog On Ice” 1948, “Thereby Hangs A Tale” 1950, “Heavens to Betsy”1955 “Horsefeathers and Other Curious Words” 1958. And only one of them was put in alphabetical order. It would have been helpful if they divided the words/phrases into categories such as animals, plants, etc.etc. The entries are often lacking in explaining what the word or phrase means or the meaning they site is often out dated or inaccurate .For example the author, Charles Earle Funk of Funk & Wagnalls Fame, begins by explaining the phrase “in a blue funk” means “in a state of dire panic” . To me, and those of my generation (Baby Boomers) it means a state of woeful depression brought on by the monotony of life. And there other entries in which they are unclear was to what the word or phrase even means. It’s like Mr. Funk randomly wrote notes on index cards and someone came along and typed them down. A more sensible approach would be to have 1. Define the word/phrase. 2. Give the etymology of the word/phrase 3. Use it in a sentence. Sometimes this was done, other times not.
I’ve been reading books, watching TV and movies for over sixty years in the Midwest, the West and the South and I must confess that I was flabbergasted at the number of words and phrases that were alien to me. I can’t claim to have heard/read everything but the number of words/phrases that are no longer in circulation is astounding.
The ONLY saving grace is there was an explanation of the phrase “Sixes and Sevens” which is so popular among the young scalywags these days. Its history goes back much further than you might think. (And really has no relation to today’s usage.)
I will simply end by saying, you should remember 7 8 9


Bonus Material
“Put that in your Funk & Wagnalls and Smoke it” A sarcastic or humorous way to say something is unbelievable, ridiculous or to mock someone’s lack of knowledge . Often used by Johnny Carson or Laugh-In during the 60’s. (NOT found in any of the four books)

If you don’t like this review, put it in your Funk & Wagnalls and smoke it!


The author of this post would like to humbly apologize for anyone who may have been offended and or triggered by the remark above. He feels great shame and remorse for his choice of words and is entering therapy to become a better person…..if such a thing is even possible.

Oh, great. You end the apology with yet another snide remark.

Well, I said I was entering therapy, I didn’t say I had gotten all the way in. Besides, how many people are going to read a review of a reference book that was published in 1993? You know now that I think about it perhaps a condominium gym in New Orleans is not the best possible place to find reference books.

[Googoogjoob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compiles four previously-published books in one volume, covering the origins of many, many different words, expressions, idioms, and the like. Entertaining; rambling and old-fashionedly antiquarian in many ways. Funk makes no attempt to present his information systematically, and doesn't provide any synthesis or analysis- it's just a mass of arbitrarily-ordered entries documenting the origins of this or that word or expression. This makes for very, very good light reading material, but for a punishing experience if one attempts to read it cover to cover. Funk's approach is also haphazard, and he sometimes presents incorrect derivations, having been persuaded by a dubious source- eg claiming confidently that the word "ramshackle" comes from an Icelandic word (possibly a cognate) rather than the better-documented modern derivation from the Middle English "ransaken" (cognate with "ransack"). Enjoy the storytelling mode and the cute illustrations, but don't trust any derivations from this book unless you can verify them elsewhere.

[J M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book went into light depth on the origins of common (and uncommon) sayings and puns. It was truly a fun read. I enjoyed the occasional illustrations quite a bit. Strangely, the authors left out some extremely common phrases that I would have liked to see included, as well as had no apparent system of organizing the 2,000+ item list of phrases they included. I would have liked some sort of category or time period system. The index in the back was of some use for finding a specific phrase, but the lack of organization in the ordering of phrases listed leads me to believe that this sizable book is better meant for the casual browser than someone who wants to read the book cover to cover.

[Larry Hostetler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this book in only 11 months. It is actually a compilation of four books, the last of which was completed posthumously by the author's son.

The first two books delve into a variety of words, and Funk gives not just the etymology and usage but also adds humor to the explanation, making for good reading.

The third book is more about sayings rather than individual words, which provided for a nice change of pace in an otherwise lengthy tome.

The final book seems to contain the most words whose origins are unknown, and in my opinion the most obsolete words, making for a somewhat unsatisfying conclusion.

But it will remain in my library as a good resource not only for words but for expressions.

A good read.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Funk is the KING of weird, antiquated expressions. This is the PERFECT reference book if you're curious about that word your strange uncle keeps saying. I owned each of his books separately, but when I found this, I sold all the Funk.

This volume compiles the following Charles Funk books:

A Hog On Ice
Thereby Hangs A Tale
Heavens to Betsy
&
Horsefeathers

I probably flip through this thing up once a day while writing copy for Periscope.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. In growing up I have heard more expressions from Aunt's and Uncles and parents from my Dutch decedents such that I needed a book like this to keep me sane. It's title says it all. It will satisfy the curious very well. If he doesn't know, he tells you right off. It's way more than a dictionary. It is fascinating. Good for the kids education too.

[Jill]

Heavens to Betsy and Other Curious Sayings by Charles Earle (editor) Funk (1972)

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some neat little info bits on word origins and phrases. Not something you'd sit down and read cover to cover, but interesting nonetheless.

[Sarah Marchitto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must have next to your dictionary...

[Jeffrey Philips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book

[Steven Burgauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Etymology as an art form.

[Stasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young person I read this book and many like it and fell in love with languages and culture, which has led to a lifetime of learning and understanding. Good book.