So That’s What It Means!: Illuminating Stories about Word Histories and Mysteries

To the man or woman who knows its origin, each word presents a picture, no matter how ordinary it may appear. Illuminating the faded image of a time-hallowed word or phrase throws light on who we are and where we came from. How did nautical terms, such as scuttlebutt and the bitter end, sail into our everyday vocabulary? What has pass the buck
got to do with the game of poker? How did two U.S. presidents help okay and teddy bear to start life? You’ll find the answers in these pages, as best-selling language author Richard Lederer passionately and humorously explores the history and mystery of everyday language. To the man or woman who knows its origin, each word presents a picture, no matter how ordinary it may appear. Illuminating the faded image of a time-hallowed word or phrase throws light on who we are and where we came from. What does indenting a paragraph have to do with teeth? What’s the origin of The cat’s got your tongue? Why do we call left-handers southpaws? You’ll find the answers in these pages, as best-selling language author Richard Lederer passionately and humorously explores the history and mystery of everyday language.

Richard Lederer is the author of more than fifty books about language, history, and humor, including his best-selling Anguished English series and his current books, Richard Lederer’s Ultimate Book of Literary Trivia and A Pleasury of Word and Phrase Origins. He is a founding co-host of A Way With Words broadcast on Public Radio. Dr. Lederer’s syndicated column, Lederer on Language, appears in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States. He has been named International Punster of the Year and Toastmasters International’s Golden Gavel winner.