Julia Cresswell

This dictionary investigates the wide range of cliches throughout the history of the English language. With over 1500 sourced cliches listed, both ancient an modern, this work looks at the more informal side of the English language.

A fascinating, thematic exploration of cliches from as the actress said to the bishop to zero hour, explaining what they are and where they've come from. Julia Cresswell has taken her best-selling dictionary of cliches ('Sumptuous! A mine of information.' Guardian) back to the drawing board and has created a book, packed with famous (and infamous) quotations and memorable information, that will change the way you see English.

Drawing on Oxford's unrivalled dictionary research program and language monitoring, this volume captures the often odd and unexpected stories behind many of our most curious expressions, offering a rich account that far exceeds what can be found in a general dictionary. --from publisher description.