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The Whatchamacallit: Those Everyday Objects You Just Can't Name (And Things You Think You Know About, But Don't)
The Whatchamacallit Those Everyday Objects You Just Can't Name - And Things You Think You Know About, But Don't Author:Danny Danziger, Mark McCrum The world is full of whatchamacallits -- things we ought to know the names for, might even think we know the names for, but when it comes right down to it, don't know the names for. That's where The Whatchamacallit comes in. A fun and witty companion to daily life, The Whatchamacallit contains the elusive names... more » for more than 100 surprisingly ordinary items, complete with the linguistic history, myth, and anecdote behind each one, complete with the linguistic history, myth, and anecdote behind each one.
The entries collected here are not the unlikely objects used by specialists or experts. The whatchamacallits in these pages are things that we see, touch, use, or think about every day, and yet, we cannot put a name to them. From achenes to zucchetto, from bobèche to vibrissae, The Whatchmacallit covers the flotsam and jetsam of everyday life. Whimsical, informative, and just plain smart, this useful compendium offers hours of enjoyment for anyone who just likes to know stuff.
The Whatchamacallit will transform you from someone who is occasionally at a loss for words to that amazing person who -- in an understated and discreet way, of course -- always knows the right word for everything.« less