A Dictionary of Catch Phrases

A Dictionary of Catch Phrases compiles and examines common expressions from British and American English, documenting their origins, evolution, and usage across different time periods. The book represents decades of research by linguist Eric Partridge, who first published it in 1977. The dictionary format presents entries alphabetically, with each catch phrase accompanied by its historical context, earliest known uses, and variations in meaning over time. Partridge draws from sources including literature, newspapers, radio shows, and direct observations of everyday speech. The entries span from the 16th century through the 1970s, covering military slang, theatrical terms, underworld expressions, and phrases from popular culture. The work pays special attention to how catch phrases spread between social classes and across the Atlantic. This reference work reveals how language reflects and preserves cultural attitudes, social changes, and historical events through commonly used expressions. The extensive annotations and historical details make it both a scholarly resource and a window into the development of informal English.

Readers praise Partridge's thorough research and documentation of catch phrases' origins, though some find the dense academic style makes it more reference book than casual read. Multiple reviews note its value for understanding historical slang and language evolution. Likes: - Detailed etymological research - Coverage of both British and American phrases - Historical context and examples - Cross-referencing between related phrases Dislikes: - Academic writing style intimidates casual readers - Some phrase origins remain speculative - Organization can make specific phrases hard to locate - British focus leaves some American phrases unexplained Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (17 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) One Goodreads reviewer called it "exhaustively researched but dry reading." An Amazon reviewer noted it was "more suited for linguistics students than general readers." Several comments mention using it as a reference rather than reading cover-to-cover.

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📚 Eric Partridge spent over 40 years collecting and researching catch phrases before publishing this dictionary in 1977. 🗣️ The book traces many common expressions back to their earliest known uses, including phrases from as far back as Elizabethan times. ✍️ Partridge was a New Zealand-born lexicographer who served in WWI, where he developed his fascination with soldiers' slang and colloquial language. 📖 The dictionary includes not just definitions but also cultural context, showing how catch phrases often reflect the social attitudes and events of their times. 🌍 Many of the catch phrases documented in the book crossed over between British, American, and Australian English, demonstrating how popular expressions traveled globally even before mass media.