Winner of the HRH Duke of Edinburgh English Speaking Union English Language Book Award 2006. An award winning language book, this is a lively and engaging expose on the foreign words and phrases that populate our language. Each entry gives a translation of the expression, the language of origin, pronunciation, an insightful comment on usage, plus illuminating examples from the press. A Pretentiousness Index will help you avoid committing the ultimate faux pas(!). If you have ever been bamboozled by the use of a foreign word or phrase, or simply want to spice up your vocabulary with some well chosen bons mots, then this is the book for you. Thousands of foreign terms have been absorbed into the English language from the everyday (kowtow) to the relatively obscure (auto-da-fe). Faux Pas? focuses on familiar terms and expressions as well as those that are new, curious or amusing.

Winner of the HRH Duke of Edinburgh English Speaking Union English Language Book Award 2006. From the author of Who's Whose? Illustrated with usage quotes from the press, a highly engaging read in an attractive, gift format

About the Author
Philip Gooden is a published crime novelist and popular language commentator. He read English at Magdalen College, Oxford, and then taught at secondary level for many years. Recently published are Who's Whose? and Name Dropping?

Reviews
'Lively, useful and humourous'. Good Book Guide (September 2007)



Book Information
ISBN 9780713685237
Author Mr Philip Gooden
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint A & C Black Publishers Ltd
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 232g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 17mm