This text takes a humorous tour through the fascinating & often surprising history of the English language & its etymology. Alex Games uncovers the trends, innovations & scandals that have shaped the meanings of our most popular words & expressions, from Chaucer & ancient Greek to Internet jargon & American slang.

Balderdash & Piffle: One Sandwich Short of a Dog's Dinner is a thrilling ride through the provocative, bewildering and often downright bizarre world of language and etymology. From the brash jargon of celebrity magazines to the delicacies and feints of the euphemism, author and word-sleuth Alex Games has uncovered the remarkable stories that lie behind some of our best-loved words and expressions. By grouping words into distinct themes - such as put downs and insults, the vocab of fashionistas and the lingo of dodgy dealings - Balderdash & Piffle looks at the English language in a fresh and...