More Tea, Vicar?: An Embarrasment of Domestic Catchphrases »

Nigel Rees's other titles include All Gong and No Dinner, As We Say in Our House, I Told You I Was Sick, and A Man About a Dog.

In this nostalgic and intriguing examination of the familiar phrases that become embedded in the daily lexicons of many households, Nigel Rees attempts to explain how and from where these colorful sayings have become the common go-to phrases for so many families. There are numerous phrases used by parents to deal with children's questions ("Why?" "Y's a crooked letter."), mangled words ("semi-skilled milk"), nannyisms ("Back in the knife box, Miss Sharp."), homey proverbs ("Custard boiled is custard spoiled."), and scores of restroom-related euphemisms—or, loophemisms ("I'm just going to turn the vicar's bike around"). Learn more about familiar phrases—the many variations on "age before beauty," and find perfect retorts for any situation—"The answer's a lemon." "Why?" "Suck it and see."