Discover the fascinating stories behind the words and phrases we use every day. English is now the worlds most popular second language, understood by over 700 m

The definitive work on the subject, this Dictionary - available again in its eighth edition - gives a full account of slang and unconventional English over four

From the brash jargon of celebrity magazines to the delicacies and feints of the euphemism, this work uncovers the stories that lie behind some of our best-love

A catch phrase is a well-known, frequently-used phrase or saying that has `caught on' or become popular over along period of time. It is often witty or philosop