Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments

1 The Hospice

PART I As the pace quickens

2 Cheerio

3 Peopled phrases

4 Darn

5 Tinker

6 Hobby

7 Steady

PART II Old ways, old language

8 Jalopy

9 Handkerchief

10 Hats

11 Nongs and yobbos

PART III Quainteries eschewed

12 Colourful language

13 Fixed rejoinders

14 Doubling up

15 Mercers

16 As easy as

17 Useful tits

18 Cockney rhyming slang

19 Odds and sods

PART IV Victims of modern candour

20 Sexuality

21 The fall

22 Dying and death

23 Consumption, hysteria, ticker and coming out

24 Black dog

25 Bad

PART V A new century with its own sensibilities

26 Body bits

27 Mad

28 Stupid

29 Ought

30 Honey

31 Fortitude

32 Modesty

PART VI The past is dead, long live the future

33 Cooking

34 Histor

Promotional Information

Answers the questions: why don't people say 'cheerio' anymore (and why did they in the first place)? and do people still tinker with jalopies? Intelligent, witty and amusing Filled with entertaining vignettes, fun facts and intriguing etymology Will appeal to anyone who love words.

About the Author

Dr Ruth Wajnryb is an applied linguist, researcher and writer. She has a regular weekly column in The Sydney Morning Herald's 'Saturday Spectrum' in which she explores often offbeat linguistic topics with that lightness of touch she brings to this new project. This is her third book with Allen & Unwin and her twelfth in total.