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As Happy as a Clam
Why should a clam be happy? Why should something ill-judged be hare-brained? Why should we never look a gift horse in the mouth, or let the cat out of the bag? Why did all the thousands of sayings, proverbs and turns of phrase that are still in use become so firmly embedded in our everyday language?
These are some of the questions answered in this fascinating and informative account of the origins and meanings of hundreds of familiar expressions.
Each has a story to tell. Some reveal intriguing sidelights on the natural world. Some take their origin from sports and games. Many trace their ancestry to life in bygone days, harking back to a time when horse-drawn transport, sailing ships and manual labour were the order of the day. Although modern life has swept away the activities referred to in many familiar expressions, their continuing use preserves a link with the past which is explored and explained in this book.
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