{"product_id":"9780743254939","title":"Informal English : Puncture Ladies, Egg Harbors, Mississippi Marbles, and Other Curious Words and Phrases of North America","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eInformal English\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Jeffrey Kacirk\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9780743254939\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Touchstone","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40890938720462,"sku":"9780743254939","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/O_781fb863-a353-4fd6-8084-be71dfb947e0.jpg?v=1644659910","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9780743254939","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}