Preposterous Proverbs

Preposterous Proverbs PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
ISBN: 1927147948
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 274

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Book Description
From our earliest years we have heard proverbs, and many of them are repeated without much thought. Yes, ‘birds of a feather flock together’ and ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’, but these sayings are so familiar that we are scarcely aware they are proverbs. It has been so for thousands of years, in every culture. It is only when someone like Max Cryer takes the time to look at them that we can see how these ‘pearls of wisdom’ have played such a key role in the moral guidance of every society. Sometimes the wisdom is distinctly odd, sometimes it has become outdated, and sometimes it is simply contradictory. After all, do ‘many hands make light work’ or do ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’? You can’t really have it both ways.In 'Preposterous Proverbs', Max Cryer looks at a vast array of proverbs from around the world. Proverbs on birth, food, women and love rub shoulders with others on money, animals, sin and death. He has chosen some of the most interesting and perplexing, and with his characteristic wry wit he analyses their meaning and truth. A great book to dip into, 'Preposterous Proverbs' will take you from Greece (‘A thousand men cannot undress a naked man’) and China (‘A dry finger cannot pick up salt’) to Japan (‘Fools and scissors must be carefully handled’) and India (‘A fat spouse is a quilt for the winter’).

Preposterous Proverbs

Preposterous Proverbs PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
ISBN: 1927147948
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 274

Get Book

Book Description
From our earliest years we have heard proverbs, and many of them are repeated without much thought. Yes, ‘birds of a feather flock together’ and ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’, but these sayings are so familiar that we are scarcely aware they are proverbs. It has been so for thousands of years, in every culture. It is only when someone like Max Cryer takes the time to look at them that we can see how these ‘pearls of wisdom’ have played such a key role in the moral guidance of every society. Sometimes the wisdom is distinctly odd, sometimes it has become outdated, and sometimes it is simply contradictory. After all, do ‘many hands make light work’ or do ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’? You can’t really have it both ways.In 'Preposterous Proverbs', Max Cryer looks at a vast array of proverbs from around the world. Proverbs on birth, food, women and love rub shoulders with others on money, animals, sin and death. He has chosen some of the most interesting and perplexing, and with his characteristic wry wit he analyses their meaning and truth. A great book to dip into, 'Preposterous Proverbs' will take you from Greece (‘A thousand men cannot undress a naked man’) and China (‘A dry finger cannot pick up salt’) to Japan (‘Fools and scissors must be carefully handled’) and India (‘A fat spouse is a quilt for the winter’).

Preposterous Proverbs

Preposterous Proverbs PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781927187104
Category : Proverbs
Languages : en
Pages : 270

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Book Description


Agur's Wisdom and the Coherence of Proverbs 30

Agur's Wisdom and the Coherence of Proverbs 30 PDF Author: Alexander T. Kirk
Publisher: SBL Press
ISBN: 1628375671
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 325

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Book Description
In this first in-depth study of Proverbs 30, the Words of Agur, Alexander T. Kirk examines a puzzling text attributed to an unknown figure that has long fascinated scholars. While this material has been read as everything from a devout confession to a cry of despair, few interpreters have found any real coherence in the chapter. In this detailed philological study engaging both genre and tone, Kirk demonstrates that the chapter is best read as a coherent collection that mocks pride and greed while it commends humility and contentment. Kirk draws out many subtle literary features that augment Agur’s message, including humor and animal imagery. Ultimately, Proverbs 30 deepens the presentation of wisdom in the book of Proverbs by orienting it toward a proper relationship with God.

Is It True?

Is It True? PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
ISBN: 1775591514
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 215

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Book Description
We can all remember the stories we were told as children: Santa Claus lives at the North Pole; St Bernard dogs carry brandy to help lost climbers; Lady Godiva rode naked through Coventry. They were great stories – and we believed them. But are they true? Max Cryer sets out to investigate the truth or otherwise of ideas and beliefs we may have always been told are true, but which on closer examination may not be. For example: Did Winston Churchill coin the term ‘Iron Curtain’? ‘OK’ is an American expression, right? Tulips come from Holland, don’t they? Did Sarah Palin say, ‘I can see Russia from my house?’ The subjects covered in this highly entertaining book are diverse, ranging from politics, science and social history, to language, music and the natural world. Max Cryer approaches each with an open mind, seeking to uncover the truth behind some of our most cherished beliefs. Be prepared for surprises.

Superstitions

Superstitions PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
ISBN: 1775592855
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 192

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Book Description
Some people casually say ‘touch wood’ when they speak of something they hope will happen. Others won’t allow peacock feathers into the house. And almost anyone who finds a four-leafed clover will treasure it and keep it. Why? Some superstitions are so ancient and have been practised for so long that they have come to be regarded as just harmless and widely observed ‘customs’, without people realising they are basically superstitions. For instance, many people wouldn’t bother tossing spilled salt over their left shoulder or avoid walking under a ladder. But they happily continue to wear a wedding ring and blow out candles on a birthday cake. They don’t know why — ‘it’s just a custom’. But both are actually superstitions. In a book full of surprises and revelations, Max Cryer explains the origins of many of the things we commonly say and observe and why we continue to include them in our lives: kissing under the mistletoe, the unlucky number thirteen, the significance of the bridal bouquet, saying ‘bless you’ after sneezing, the hanging of a horseshoe, ‘the Scottish play’, the danger in opals, the Leap Year proposal … so many aspects of our lives are coloured by superstition. Now you can discover the reasons for them in a book that is both witty and informative. Superstitions will provide many ‘Eureka’ moments and settle many family disputes.

What is There to Say?

What is There to Say? PDF Author: Ann Smock
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
ISBN: 9780803242982
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
Herman Melville?s Bartleby, asked to account for himself, ?would prefer not to.? Tongue-tied Billy Budd, urged to defend his innocence, responds with a murderous blow. The Bavard, by Louis-Renä des For?ts, concerns a man whose power to speak is replaced by an inability to shut up. In these and other literary examples a call for speech throws the possibility of speaking into doubt. What Is There to Say? uses the ideas of Maurice Blanchot to clarify puzzling works by Melville, des For?ts, and Beckett. Ann Smock's energetic readings of texts about talking, listening, and recording cast an equally welcome light on Blanchot?s paradoxical thought.

Curious English Words and Phrases

Curious English Words and Phrases PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
ISBN: 1921966017
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 434

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Book Description
Have you ever wondered where terms like 'end of your tether', 'gets my goat' or 'letting ones hair down' come from? Or why we call some people 'geezers', 'sugar daddies' or 'lounge lizards'? Or where the words 'eavesdropping', 'nickname' and 'D-Day' come from? They are just a few of the many words and phrases that language expert Max Cryer examines in this fact-filled and fun new book. Max explains where these curious expressions come from, what they mean and how they are used. Along the way he tells a host of colourful anecdotes and dispels quite a few myths - Did Churchill originate the phrase 'black dog'? And if 'ivory tower' can be found in the Bible, why has its meaning changed so drastically? Curious English Words and Phrases is a treasure trove for lovers of language. Informative, amusing and value for money, this book is 'the real McCoy'. From 'couch potato' to 'Bob's your uncle', you'll find the explanation here!

The Godzone Dictionary

The Godzone Dictionary PDF Author: Max Cryer
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
ISBN: 1775594173
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
Visitors to New Zealand are frequently surprised — and puzzled — by local terms and expressions. This concise A–Z dictionary, now updated in a new expanded edition, is a quick and easy reference to understanding the words and phrases that make the New Zealand language and speech patterns so different. Language expert Max Cryer not only provides helpful definitions for the various entries, but also sheds light on their origins. Slang words feature heavily, while a key feature of the book is the large number of Māori words that have become part of the common language over the years. Popular names of sports teams are also included, while an appendix of New Zealand acronyms completes the book. From Rotovegas to the Naki, both Kiwis and visitors to New Zealand will find the lingo of Godzone explained simply and accurately. Never stuffy or academic, Max Cryer brings his expert knowledge and dry wit to a book that is sure to become an essential reference. Sweet as!

Introduction to Paremiology

Introduction to Paremiology PDF Author: Hrisztalina Hrisztova-Gotthardt
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3110456125
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 382

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Book Description
This handbook introduces key elements of the philological research area called paremiology (the study of proverbs). It presents the main subject area as well as the current status of paremiological research. The basic notions, among others, include defining proverbs, main proverb features, origin, collecting and categorization of proverbs. Each chapter is written by a leading scholar-specialist in their area of proverbial research. Since the book represents a measured balance between the popular and scientific approach, it is recommended to a wide readership including experienced and budding scholars, students of linguistics, as well as other professionals interested in the study of proverbs.

The Art of Looking at Art

The Art of Looking at Art PDF Author: Gene Wisniewski
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538133733
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 297

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Book Description
A readable guide to the art of looking at art. There’s an art to viewing art. A sizable portion of the population regards art with varying degrees of reverence, bewilderment, suspicion, contempt, and intimidation. Most people aren’t sure what to do when standing before a work of art, besides gaze at it for what they hope is an acceptable amount of time, and even those who visit galleries and museums regularly aren’t always as well versed as they wish they could be. This book will help remedy that situation and answer many of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to the matter of art in general: When was the first art made? Who decides which art is “for the ages”? What is art’s purpose? How do paintings get to be worth tens of millions of dollars? Where do artists get their ideas? And perhaps the most pressing question of all, have human cadavers ever been used as art materials? (Yup.) The Art of Looking at Art addresses these and countless more of the issues surrounding this frequently misunderstood microcosm, in a highly informative, yet conversational tone. History, fascinating and altogether human backstories, and information pertaining to every conceivable aspect of visual art are interwoven in twelve concise chapters, providing all the information the average person needs to comfortably approach, analyze, and appreciate art. Readers with a background in art will learn a few new things as well. This beautiful full-color book includes 45 full-page reproductions.