Dictionary of Idioms: And Their Origins L. Flavell
The English language contains a great store of idioms that can be used in creative and forceful ways. This book examines over 400 phrases, tracing each one's source and history through a supply of examples. Mini-essays scattered through the book expand on such broader themes as "What is an idiom?"; "National Rivalries" and "The Old Curiosity Shop of Linguistics."