Join Susie Dent, lexicographer extraordinaire and Queen of Countdown's Dictionary Corner, on a curious and exceedingly interesting adventure through all the very best RED HERRINGS, COCK AND BULL STORIES and NINE-DAY WONDERS in the English language.Who was SWEET FANNY ADAMS?What's the dramatic true story behind STEALING THUNDER?Why is it CHANCING YOUR ARM when you take a risk?What do bears have to do with LICKING INTO SHAPE?Or robbers with PULLING SOMEONE'S LEG?Why are CIRCLES VICIOUS?And, what's so bad about a WHITE ELEPHANT? 'Nobody on earth knows more about the English language than Susie Dent' Gyles Brandreth Read more

“Vastly informative and vastly entertaining…A scholarly and fascinating book.” —Los Angeles TimesWith dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can’t), to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world’s largest growth industries. Read more

Learn French in no time with Paul Noble's tried-and-tested method.Ever tried to learn French and found it too hard? Bestselling language coach Paul Noble has a quick and easy way to get you back on track with his unique tried-and-tested method. Keeps things simple with three basic rules; don’t skip anything, don’t try to memorise anything and cover up to test yourself. A fun, jargon-free way to learn Easy-to-understand French pronunciation PROVEN to work; Paul can teach anyone a language, even people who think they’re incapablePaul’s course teaches you how to speak French more effectively, giving you the building blocks to form a huge range of conversations. This is a practical way to learn the aspects of language that you’ll actually need and use; from booking a hotel room to navigating a menu, Paul will effortlessly build your confidence and give you the tools to handle any holiday situation. You will unlock a range of vocabulary you already know.There is nothing so complicated in foreign languages that it cannot be made simple.” Paul NobleA quick, easy and fun way to unlock your basic language skills. Perfect for beginners, this book will give you all the information you need to build basic conversations and get by on your travels. Read more

Learn Italian in no time with Paul Noble's tried-and-tested method.Ever tried to learn Italian and found it too hard? Bestselling language coach Paul Noble has a quick and easy way to get you back on track with his unique tried-and-tested method. Keeps things simple with three basic rules; don’t skip anything, don’t try to memorise anything and cover up to test yourself. A fun, jargon-free way to learn Easy-to-understand Italian pronunciation PROVEN to work; Paul can teach anyone a language, even people who think they’re incapablePaul’s course teaches you how to speak Italian more effectively, giving you the building blocks to form a huge range of conversations. This is a practical way to learn the aspects of language that you’ll actually need and use; from booking a hotel room to navigating a menu, Paul will effortlessly build your confidence and give you the tools to handle any holiday situation. You will unlock a range of vocabulary you already know.“There is nothing so complicated in foreign languages that it cannot be made simple.” Paul NobleA quick, easy and fun way to unlock your basic language skills. Perfect for beginners, this book will give you all the information you need to build basic conversations and get by on your travels. Read more

Discover Spanish grammar naturally as you read stories, expand your vocabulary, and grow fluent fast!If you've recently started learning Spanish, you probably noticed the lack of reading material online. Or maybe you found some, but they're for kids or simply boring. That's why we've brought you Learning Spanish with Short Stories for Adult Beginners.Take your Spanish to the next level with our high-quality short stories designed specifically for adults!With our book, you'll work on more than your reading. You'll learn rich vocabulary and understand how to use new Spanish structures in any given context as the stories get progressively more challenging as you go on.Learning a new language is hard enough as it is. Let's make it much, much more straightforward.In Learning Spanish with Short Stories for Adult Beginners, you will discover:Engaging storiesRich vocabulary and useful everyday phrasesStories tailored around a particular structure to challenge your Spanish every timeSpecific verb conjugations within the storiesThe present and present progressive tenses simplifiedDescriptions of weather, people, and placesTips and tricks on how to get the best from our storiesHelpful glossariesA summary of every storyExercises to put your reading skills to the testAnswer keys for every exercise setYou don't have to struggle all on your own. Our stories are easy to follow and will help you in this journey every step of the way.Oh, and let's not forget that you'll receive the PDF of our highly requested "Complete Spanish Phrasebook" plus some extra digital Spanish flashcards that'll take your Spanish to the next level as FREE BONUSES when you secure this book today!This incredible book was written by Spanish linguists, which means they have a deep understanding of the Spanish language while also being able to teach you the language and phrases spoken in real life.If you're ready to start your Spanish journey, then scroll up and click "add to cart" NOW! Read more

You will never be lost for words in your travels around Greece and the Greek islands again! Your ideal travel companion will ensure that you can say what you need in Greek with ease and confidence.Reliable and easy-to-use, this phrasebook is an indispensable travel companion as you deal with the situations that crop up every day on holiday; from finding a chic hotel, or hiring a car to explore the countryside, to choosing a local delicacy from the menu, and, of course, setting up your wifi.With helpful travel information and cultural tips, plus a 3000-word dictionary, make sure you don’t go anywhere without this little ebook – an essential guide to speaking and understanding Greek when travelling in Greece and the Greek islands. Read more

Transform Yourself from "Passion Victim" to Passionista!In the smash hit She Comes First, Ian Kerner singlehandedly waged battle against male sexual "ill-cliteracy," and women everywhere benefited from his "viva la vulva" philosophy of female pleasure. Now, in Passionista, it's time to learn all about what turns men onand makes them stay on. In this point-by-point, "blow-by-blow" guide, Kerner makes giving as much fun as receiving as he covers every angle of male sexuality, unlocks the secrets of satisfaction, and offers knowledgeable answers to the questions every woman wonders about. His advice is the closest you'll ever come to waking up in a guy's skin and knowing what truly makes him sexually tick.Written in the same witty, insightful, and utterly readable voice that has made She Comes First and Be Honest so popular, Passionista is the empowered woman's guide to enjoying sex to the fullest Read more

The home of trusted English dictionaries and thesauruses for everyday language use. The perfect word reference for daily use. With over 300,000 synonyms and antonyms, this is the ideal thesaurus to take your language use and knowledge further. Specially tailored to meet the needs of the user at home, school, or in the office, Collins English Thesaurus Essential offers all the words, alternatives, and opposites you might need. The most useful words are highlighted for ease of reference, and plentiful example sentences let you pinpoint synonyms for the exact meaning you have in mind. The thesaurus also provides alternatives for fixed phrases and includes practical usage notes for guidance on thorny language questions. The clear, accessible layout makes the thesaurus easy to use and ensures you can find the information you need. On any Kindle e-reader or Kindle app, you can search for a word to get alternative words and opposites. You can also set this thesaurus as your default dictionary* to view synonyms of words you encounter while reading. *Default dictionary feature supported on Kindle Oasis, Kindle Voyage, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle, Kindle Fire with Fire OS 4.0+, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, Kindle DX, Kindle for Android (version 4.0+), and Kindle for iPad/iPhone (version 4.0+). Default dictionary feature is not supported on Kindle Fire 1st/2nd generation, Kindle for Mac, or Kindle for PC. Read more

You will never be lost for words in your travels around Japan again! Your ideal travel companion will ensure that you can say what you need in Japanese with ease and confidence.Reliable and easy-to-use, this phrasebook is an indispensable travel companion as you deal with the situations that crop up every day on holiday; from finding a chic hotel, or hiring a car to explore the countryside, to choosing a local delicacy from the menu, and, of course, setting up your wifi.With helpful travel information and cultural tips, plus a 3000-word dictionary, make sure you don’t go anywhere without this little ebook – an essential guide to speaking and understanding Japanese when travelling in Japan. Read more

A family's thrilling voyage around the Caribbean and across the Atlantic Ocean'A great read for anyone daring to throw caution to the wind' CoastThree years after his return from the Alaskan wilderness, Guy Grieve was living on the Isle of Mull in Scotland with his wife Juliet and their two young sons. Sick of the weather, perennial colds and their increasingly routine lifestyle, they'd all been getting restless. Finally, Guy and Juliet broke in spectacular style – they re-mortgaged their house and bought a yacht. Her name was Forever.The plan? To pick up Forever from her mooring in the Leeward Antilles off the coast of Venezuela, and sail around the West Indies before crossing the Atlantic back to Scotland. This was despite the fact that Guy, skipper of the expedition, had almost no sailing experience. Travelling around the lush tropical islands of the Caribbean and up the waterways of America, the family had countless sublime moments as they discovered the freedoms of sailing – anchoring in deserted bays, night passages under star-studded skies, and entering New York by water, greeted by the Statue of Liberty. But there were also testing times as they grappled with seasickness and bad weather, coping with young children at sea and learning to run a large, complex boat. Far from being the idyllic escape they'd envisaged, the journey forced Guy and Juliet to draw on reserves of courage and endurance they never knew they had. Wry, funny and buccaneering, this is a compelling tale of bravery and endeavour, out on the open sea. Read more

Can you name 10 different feelings?Many people struggle to name even ten distinct feelings, revealing a gap in emotional literacy that affects more than just interpersonal relationships. Failing to recognize and process our feelings can lead to significant stress-related conditions, such as chronic anxiety, tension, and even physical symptoms like digestive problems. By enhancing our ability to understand and manage feelings, we can alleviate these symptoms and improve our overall quality of life, fostering better health and stronger personal connections.Structure of the BookThis comprehensive guide utilizes the Feelings Wheel to explore a wide array of feelings. Each section of the book delves into different feelings, providing clear definitions, signs for identification, connections with related feelings, and effective coping strategies. This structured approach equips readers with the tools needed to recognize and address their emotional states practically and insightfully.Key FeaturesDetailed Definitions: Clarify the nuances of each feeling.Identification Tips: Recognize feelings in yourself and others.Related Feelings: Understand connections between different feelings.Practical Coping Strategies: Manage emotional responses effectively.Compact and Portable (6x9): Perfectly sized to take on the goExplore the transformative power of understanding your feelings. Enhance your emotional well-being and address physical symptoms linked to emotional stress by mastering the skills in this book.Get your copy today and start your journey to a healthier, more balanced life! Read more

You will never be lost for words in your travels around Italy and Italian-speaking countries again! Your ideal travel companion will ensure that you can say what you need in Italian with ease and confidence.Reliable and easy-to-use, this phrasebook is an indispensable travel companion as you deal with the situations that crop up every day on holiday; from finding a chic hotel, or hiring a car to explore the countryside, to choosing a local delicacy from the menu, and, of course, setting up your wifi.With helpful travel information and cultural tips, plus a 3000-word dictionary, make sure you don’t go anywhere without this little ebook – an essential guide to speaking and understanding Italian when travelling in Italy and Italian-speaking countries. Read more

Through their work with organisations and companies across the world, Maggie Semple and Jane Oremosu found that there was a need to help people as they discussed difference, race and inclusion. My Little Black Book: A Blacktionary aims to do just that.This A-Z pocket guide is for people who are entering the workplace and finding their identity, for leaders and managers who feel overwhelmed by ever-evolving definitions and phrases, for anyone who is afraid of saying the wrong thing and being judged. From explaining what microagressions are and their impact, to helping you understand what cultural appreciation is and how it's different to cultural appropriation, this book will break down barriers to engaging in conversations on race.Drawing together the best definitions as well as useful advice and tips, My Little Black Book: A Blacktionary is an essential tool to broaden your knowledge and live and work better with others. Read more

Newly updated to incorporate recent additions to the English language, the Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins provides a fascinating exploration of the origins and development of over 3,000 words in the English language. Drawing on Oxford's unrivalled dictionary research programme and language monitoring it brings to light the intriguing and often unusual stories of some of our most used words and phrases. The A-Z entries include the first known use of the term along with examples, related lexes, and expressions which uncover the etymological composition of each word. Also featured are 22 special panels that give overviews of broad topic areas, 5 of which are completely new and that variously cover words from Oceania, word blends, eponyms, and acronyms. New findings in the OED since the previous edition have also been added, including emoji, mansplain, meeple, meme, and spam. An absorbing resource for language students and enthusiasts, but also an intriguing read for any person interested in the development of the English language, and of language development in general. It also includes an extended introduction on the history of the English language. Read more

'The best book on the Irish language I have ever read – so funny, so soulful' Tommy TiernanLoinnir: The sunlight sparkling on the waves, or the merriness you feel after early pints of stout in the morning.When you speak in Irish, every word is a tiny poem that reveals a new perspective. The Irish language is our inheritance. It lives underneath us in the soil, it blows through the leaves on trees and rises from the roots. Hector Ó hEochagáin is on a mission to help us reclaim that inheritance.From beautiful and melodic words like LOINNIR and phrases like 'CÉN CHAOI A BHFUIL TÚ?' – the perfect greeting for when the postman stops by on a winter's morning; to 'GAFA' – a way to say you're so busy you don't even have time to go to the toilet; 'DAMANTA' – when you have an almighty headache or terrible hangover; and 'SIOCTHA' – when it's so cold the grass is crunchy under your feet, rediscover the fun and magic of Irish words you can use every day.'The godfather of modern Irish brings new meaning, richness and relevance to our language' Paul Galvin Read more

You will never be lost for words in your travels around Portugal and the Portuguese islands again! Your ideal travel companion will ensure that you can say what you need in Portuguese with ease and confidence.Reliable and easy-to-use, this phrasebook is an indispensable travel companion as you deal with the situations that crop up every day on holiday; from finding a chic hotel, or hiring a car to explore the countryside, to choosing a local delicacy from the menu, and, of course, setting up your wifi.With helpful travel information and cultural tips, plus a 3000-word dictionary, make sure you don’t go anywhere without this little ebook – an essential guide to speaking and understanding Portuguese when travelling in Portugal and the Portuguese islands. Read more

Welcome to QI: The Book of the Dead, a biographical dictionary with a twist - one where only the most interesting people made it in!QI have got together six dozen of the happiest, saddest, maddest and most successful men and women from history. Celebrate their wisdom, learn from their mistakes and marvel at their bad taste in clothes. Hans Christian Anderson was terrified of naked women, Florence Nightingale spent her last fifty years in bed, Sigmund Freud smoked twenty cigars a day, Catherine de Medici applied a daily face mask made of pigeon dung, Rembrandt van Rijn died penniless and Madame Mao banned cicadas, rustling noises and pianos. Carefully collected and ordered by the QI team into themed chapters with thought-provoking titles such as 'There's Nothing Like a Bad Start in Life', 'Man Cannot Live by Bread Alone'. Each chapter reveals hilarious insights into the true nature of the most interesting people who ever lived, including Isaac Newton, Genghis Khan, Sigmund Freud, Florence Nightingale and Karl Marx. From the bestselling authors of The Book of General Ignorance and 1,277 Facts to Knock Your Socks Off, comes a fun and inspirational biographical dictionary, with motivational stories about the famous and the obscure. Read more

You will never be lost for words in your travels around Spain and the Spanish islands again! Your ideal travel companion will ensure that you can say what you need in Spanish with ease and confidence.Reliable and easy-to-use, this phrasebook is an indispensable travel companion as you deal with the situations that crop up every day on holiday; from finding a chic hotel, or hiring a car to explore the countryside, to choosing a local delicacy from the menu, and, of course, setting up your wifi.With helpful travel information and cultural tips, plus a 3000-word dictionary, make sure you don’t go anywhere without this little ebook – an essential guide to speaking and understanding Spanish when travelling in Spain and the Spanish islands. Read more

A photographic guide to the key words and phrases in French. This attractive ebook is a perfect travel companion and provides a practical guide to France and French language and culture.Everyday words are arranged in themes with carefully selected up-to-date images to illustrate key words and phrases, and an English and French index help you to find words quickly as you learn.3,000 essential words and phrases for modern life in France are at your fingertips with topics covering food and drink, home life, work and school, shopping, sport and leisure, transport, technology, and the environment.Great care has been given to represent modern French culture and enhance your experience of France and its people, including customs, celebrations, and festivals.Plus, download your free audio to hear native speakers pronounce the word for each image and get your pronunciation pitch perfect, available from collinsdictionary.com/resources#visual Read more

You will never be lost for words in your travels around Germany and German-speaking countries again! Your ideal travel companion will ensure that you can say what you need in German with ease and confidence.Reliable and easy-to-use, this phrasebook is an indispensable travel companion as you deal with the situations that crop up every day on holiday; from finding a chic hotel, or hiring a car to explore the countryside, to choosing a local delicacy from the menu, and, of course, setting up your wifi.With helpful travel information and cultural tips, plus a 3000-word dictionary, make sure you don’t go anywhere without this little ebook – an essential guide to speaking and understanding German when travelling in Germany and German-speaking countries. Read more