{"product_id":"9780743254939","title":"Informal English: Puncture Ladies, Egg Harbors, Mississippi Marbles, and Other Curious Words and Phrases of North America","description":"\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor\/Contributor(s):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003eKacirk, Jeffrey\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTouchstone\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4\/12\/2005\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003ePaperback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"\"\u003eNEW\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003eGleaned from antiquated dictionaries, dialect glossaries, studies of folklore, nautical lexicons, historical writings, letters, novels, and miscellaneous sources, Informal English offers a captivating treasure trove of linguistic oddities that will not only entertain but also shed light on America's colloquial past. Among the gems are: \u003cbr\u003e \u003cul type=\"DISC\"\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSurface-coal:\u003c\/b\u003e cow dung, widely used for fuel in Texas \u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBone-orchard:\u003c\/b\u003e in the Southwest slang for a cemetery \u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eChawswizzled:\u003c\/b\u003e \"confounded\" in Nebraskan idiom. \"I'll be chawswizzled!\" \u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLeather-ears:\u003c\/b\u003e to Cape Cod inhabitants, a person of slow comprehension \u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePuncture lady:\u003c\/b\u003e a southwestern expression for a woman who prefers to sit on the sidelines at a dance and gossip rather than dance, often puncturing someone's reputation \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Whether the entries are unexpected twists on familiar-sounding expressions or based on curious old customs, this wide-ranging assortment of vernacular Americanisms will amaze and amuse even the most hard-boiled curmudgeon.","brand":"Touchstone","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44300726731007,"sku":"9780743254939","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0452\/0886\/2873\/files\/Jacket_65a51980-1648-4038-b130-c5ce2cb6d0f3.jpg?v=1746931203","url":"https:\/\/massivebookshop.com\/products\/9780743254939","provider":"MASSIVE BOOKSHOP","version":"1.0","type":"link"}