Full Description
In On the Tip of My Tongue, logophile and television star Tom Read Wilson takes a delicious dive into the etymology and usage of words, euphemisms and bon mots.
Written with his trademark sparkling wit, the star of Celebs Go Dating and self-avowed word-lover presents a hilarious and fascinating guide which aims to leave you never lost for words again.
Divided into sections spanning dating, personal development, show business, compliments, curses, and how to dodge offence while speaking your mind, this book will equip you with the words needed to navigate all the situations of modern life with style and grace.
From treppenwitz (the German word for the feeling of a missed riposte in an argument) to Callipygian (a 17th Century word referring to someone with well shaped buttocks) to JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out), this guide covers a wide and varied range of words, from those with roots in antiquity to new ones being coined in the present day.
With Tom's wit and lifelong love of words by your side, you'll always be able to pick the perfect word, phrase or quip, whether you are trying to understand the many metaphors for sex or trying to tell your mother you love her.
This is a delightful and hilarious etymological solution to the dilemmas and conundrums of modern life and a must-read for every budding vocabularian.
Contents
Introduction
How to tool up before we get started
How to
speak like a thespian
decline politely, or impolitely
throw shade (and keep your dignity intact)
say it with flowers
talk about gender
colour your emotions
identify emotional overload
dodge offence (while speaking your mind)
describe all your corporeal bits and juices
talk euphemistically about the bathroom
follow Mrs Higgins's advice and talk about the weather
have fun with collective nouns
speak like a movie star
wax rhapsodic
be brave
describe what you do (and how you are remunerated)
talk about money (if you must)
describe just how far you would like to go, how much you want and when
sashay with sartorial elegance
navigate the many metaphors of sex
describe each chapter of a love affair
be naughty but nice
speak like a personal trainer verbivore
allow the culinary to feed our discourse
let the music in
successfully close your lexical bin
A Final Word
Thanks
Index
