Have you ever been in a situation where the cat got your tongue, or you let the green-eyed monsterget the better of you? Have you ever tried to keep up with the Joneses or collapsed in stitches whenyou heard something hilarious?

What is the common thread binding the words safari, orange and algebra? And did you know theword Bluetooth was coined long before the smartphone’s invention, or that a British nobleman, the4th Earl of Sandwich, lent his name to a popular food item?

From the Persian roots of ‘khaki’ to the Shakespearean sass behind ‘crocodile tears’, this book is yourbackstage pass to discovering the at once fascinating, strange and amusing histories of the popularwords and phrases we use every day, though mostly without pausing to reflect on their etymology.Linguistic sleuth Sumanto Chattopadhyay peels back the layers of language and takes us on a rollicking ride to demystify the origins and meanings of common words and quirky idiomatic expressions that sometimes frustrate us—and get our goat—or sound Greek to us!

Stories of Words and Phrases is the perfect read for word nerds, enthusiasts, or anyone who enjoys language trivia rooted in rich cultural history drawn from various parts of the world. It’s elementary, my dear Watson—this book will make you laugh, learn and unlock the wordsmith in you.

Publisher: Rupa Publications India

Author: Sumanto Chattopadhyay

Pages: 296

ISBN: 9789370034181

Publication Date: 05 July 2025