The wellerism - so called in English because it is a form of expression typical or reminiscent of Sam Weller or his father, two celebrated characters in Dickens's Pickwick Papers - is a major subtype of the proverb. It consists of three parts: a speech or statement (often a proverb), identification of the speaker, and identification of the situation, which gives the expression an ironic or humorous twist, often in the form of a pun. A Dictionary of Wellerisms is the first work to collect all of the wellerisms recorded in the English language. Containing a wealth of wit and wisdom, it also offers a preface, bibliography, lengthy introduction, and two indexes, one of speakers, one of situations. Wellerisms: `Prevention is better than cure,' said the pig when it ran away from the butcher. `We'll have to rehearse that,' said the undertaker as the coffin fell out of the car.

Book Information
ISBN 9780195083187
Author Wolfgang Mieder
Format Hardback
Page Count 206
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 430g