Reviews

Did you know that A"hickeyA" means a lovebite, a red patch caused by a sucking kiss? If not, consult Michael Munro's exploration of slang in order to look at some English words that are never appropriate in a formal context. Munro covers a huge variety of words, ranging from quaint archaisms to industrial-strength expletives. Nearly 6000 words and phrases are explained. However, the book is not exactly a dictionary of slang. The material has been arranged so that readers can find the word associated with a particular group, subject, region or period in one place. But beware! Slang is decried as substandard and the book contains some very rude words which are not for the easily shocked. Don't be afraid of a guilt-trip. One of the great world languages is definitely enriched by slang, particularly in the current age of instant mass communication. -- Consilium Journal: The internal Journal of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union 20080401