A Hog on Ice and Other Curious Expressions

Charles Earle Funk

Published by Harper & Row, 1948

About this Item

A Hog on Ice and Other Curious Expressions; by Charles Earle Funk; with Illustrations by Tom Funk; Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, 1948. Charles Earle Funk (1881 1957) was an American lexicographer. He was a member of the Funk family who owned the publisher Funk & Wagnalls. Funk wrote several etymological dictionaries, including Thereby Hangs a Tale: Stories of Curious Word Origins, A Hog On Ice & Other Curious Expressions, Heavens To Betsy & Other Curious Expressions, Horsefeathers and Other Curious Words, and 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions: From White Elephants to Song & Dance. From the blurb When our fathers and grandfathers said of a person he was as independent as a hog on ice why did they mean that he was confident and self-assured? How did the expression - a wild-goose chase originate? Do you agree that if you bring home the bacon you are in no danger of becoming as poor as Job s turkey? The author has taken these and hundreds of other curious expressions and sayings that, without thought, we use in our daily speech, and has traced them back through the years or centuries in an effort to determine their sources, to find out what the original allusions were, or to give us his expert opinion when facts cannot be traced. The ninety-five black-and white spot drawings are the work of his nephew. Tom Funk, whose drawings are well-known to the readers of The New Yorker, Mademoiselle, Vogue, and other popular magazines. The book, 214 pages, is in very-good conditions as is the dust jacket, that is now enclosed in a protective mylar wrap. A fascinating, well-made little book. Seller Inventory # 20101

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Hog on Ice and Other Curious Expressions

Publisher: Harper & Row

Publication Date: 1948

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good