Unfortunate English: The Gloomy Truth Behind the Words You Use

by Bill Brohaugh (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2007

  $5.24

  Unfortunate English uncovers previous meanings of words that would, if those meanings were blatantly apparent today, offend the sensitive, discomfit the squeamish, and irk the politically correct. This book of word histories highlights the de-intensification of the disgusting, the generalization of the ribald, and the mutation of the offensive, revealing the ugly truth behind commonly used words. Readers will discover: what sensitivities are secretly offended by the use of such words as poppycock, bonfire, and porcelain; the secret political incorrectness of words such as lampoon, sinister, and flamingo; and how remarkably innocent words such as butterfly, gymnasium, and fizzle may have once offended. With fun gloomy illustrations and a browsable format, this delightfully grim book is sure to make any word lover unable to resist taking a peak at the dark side of the English language.