Why You Say It offers simple, but comprehensive, descriptions and possible origins of words and phrases like "three sheets to the wind," "whippersnapper," “crocodile tears,” “jump the gun,” and "hook, line, and sinker." The book covers a diverse range of words and phrases arranged by category. Unlike most reference books, the listings are written for the casual reader, not the academic.
As someone who loves words, knowing why we say what we do, and where those strange and quaint sayings come from, I genuinely enjoyed this book. Why You Say It makes a fun addition to your bookshelf or even your ‘bathroom library’. The book provides easy reference to popular phrases, making it a not only a great word guide, but also a quick read when you have a few minutes to kill. It is also a great conversation starter.
(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.)
