Slang and dialect humour Books

80 products


  • Do Not Pluck the Beard of a Stranger: and other

    Luath Press Ltd Do Not Pluck the Beard of a Stranger: and other

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisA collection of proverbs in the original Gaelic, and translated into English covering family, work, money, self-Improvement and food and drink amongst other topics. Gaelic proverbs tell it like it is, and provide advice for a myriad of situations. This pocketsize volume will make an excellent souvenir or a gift for any occasion.

    2 in stock

    £5.99

  • Reggie's Guide to Social Climbing

    New Island Books Reggie's Guide to Social Climbing

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisCork's most beautifully spoken millionaire is on a mission to help Ireland's nouveau riche: learn to eat, drink, flirt and behave as if you were a member of Cork's One Per Cent.

    1 in stock

    £8.54

  • Ey Up Mi Duck!: Dialect of Derbyshire and the

    Countryside Books Ey Up Mi Duck!: Dialect of Derbyshire and the

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis work is a celebration of the dialect spoken in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and South Staffordshire. The amazing text and cartoon-like illustrations capture the warmth and humour of the East Midlands.

    1 in stock

    £6.95

  • Flat Caps & Mufflers

    Country Publications Ltd Flat Caps & Mufflers

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • 'Haud Ma Chips, Ah've Drapped the Wean!': Glesca

    Luath Press Ltd 'Haud Ma Chips, Ah've Drapped the Wean!': Glesca

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisAn hilarious and often wise collection of Scots saying straight from the mouths of the Grannies of Glasgow. With each snippet accompanied by a straightforward English translation, this is your introduction to the unique wisdom of the 'Glesca Granny'.Trade ReviewLast word on the wit and wisdom of Glesca patter. DAILY MAIL

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Wee Book O'Scottish Mindfooness

    Forth Books The Wee Book O'Scottish Mindfooness

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £6.78

  • 'Eh hud meh eh on a peh': The best of the best of

    Luath Press Ltd 'Eh hud meh eh on a peh': The best of the best of

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisDundonians have a defining, distinctive way of expressing themselves and communicating feelings. The ancient city’s characteristic accent can be heard in any Lochee bar or Hilltoon playground, or on any bus – where Dundee grannies have extraordinary ‘Eh?’ ‘Eh!’ nodding conversations. And to the trained ear they make perfect sense!Trade Review.Table of ContentsIntroduction Insults Dundeh Vehlence Comings and Goings Wise Words Weather Familiar Questions Domestic bliss Dundee life Booze Food A peh’s a peh fur a’ that, ispaishully in Dundeh Medical emergencies Money Love Sport and Leisure Complaints Expressions

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Little Book of Profanities: Know your Sh*ts

    Headline Publishing Group The Little Book of Profanities: Know your Sh*ts

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisKeep your swearing as fresh as a f*cking daisy with The Little Book of Profanities. There's nothing better than that perfect swear word. In a battle of wits, it can make all the difference. And, like all things in life, variety is the spice of swear words. Why call someone a d*ck, when a choad is so much more – satisfying. Stuffed with 100 of the obscene, offensive and outrageous swear words known to construction workers all over the world, The Little Book of Profanities encourages you to flex and stretch your foul-mouthed muscles so when that awesome opportunity to use a big, hairy curse word arises you're not hoisted by your own petard. In these uncertain and challenging times of political and social chaos, when all you want to do is shout obscenities at the world for being crap, The Little Book of Profanities is here to help you survive the day in style. Swearing – it's big, it's clever and anyone who thinks otherwise can f*ck off. 'The sort of twee person who thinks swearing is in any way a sign of a lack of education or a lack of verbal interest is just a f*cking lunatic.' Stephen Fry on the joy of swearing, as seen on theguardian.com, 20 August 2007, by Sam Wollaston. Fact: The word's etymology can be traced back to around 450AD when scite (dung), scitte (diarrhoea) and scitan (to defecate) were all thrown about. Sh*t evolved millennia later into schitte (excrement) and shiten (to defecate). Example: 'Life is a crap carnival with sh*t prizes.' - Stephen King. Table of ContentsMildly Wild • Lewd and Rude • Nasty But Nice • Savage Swears • Classic Curses • Obscenely Offensive • Profoundly Profane • Expletive Deleted • Bawdy and Blasphemous.

    2 in stock

    £5.99

  • My Very Tree: a stunning debut, full of humour

    Crumps Barn Studio My Very Tree: a stunning debut, full of humour

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis"Eyes like blue diamonds, a smile that captivates the heart Floating on the clouds I have no wings I am not a bird but I watch from a distance Listen can you hear it, the whisper of the wind Circling around me" My Very Tree is Beverley Gordon's brilliant and original debut poetry collection. Personal and full of the unexpected, this is a lively expression of identity and freedom.Trade Review'I wanted to saviour every word and pace my way through, but I couldn’t put it down ... this collection is relevant and thought provoking, I laughed I smiled and I thought it was deep ... what a great little read' ~ 5 stars

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • 'Dinna Fash Yersel, Scotland!': Scottish

    Luath Press Ltd 'Dinna Fash Yersel, Scotland!': Scottish

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThese are tough times.Prices spiralling! Climate change! International tension! Pandemics! It’s not hard to find things to worry about.But Scottish grannies can be an oasis of calm. Their wit and wisdom, their compassion and knowhow, their measured good sense and withering reproaches are exactly what is required.Scottish grannies are reassuring. They are relevant. And they need to be heard.Trade ReviewAllan Morrison has a sharp eye and a silver tongue when it comes to observational humour.Scotland on Sunday on Allan MorrisonDivided into twelve sections covering everything from love, through health to international tensions, there really is something for every reader here. I read the book through in order but I think it would be even better dipped into at random. Humour aside, I think there’s an underlying pragmatism and appreciation of an older, often overlooked, generation that helps make' ‘Dinna Fash Yersel, Scotland!’ all the better.LINDA HILL, Linda’s Book Bag BlogThis braw wee book is full of wisdom to help us through these challenging times.FRANMCBOOKFACEI thought this was a great wee book and it brought back memories of my older relatives, many of whom are no longer with us. Some of the sayings made me nod in agreement and some made me smile. If you are looking for a gift for the Scot in your life, or for someone with Scottish roots, I’m sure they’d find this little book very witty and entertaining.JOANNE, The Portobello Book Blog

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Sweary Word Puzzle Book (For Adults)

    Ebury Publishing The Sweary Word Puzzle Book (For Adults)

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisModern Life is stressful. We all need to let off steam sometimes.In these pages, you will find many sweary word games to test the mind and bring you a sense of calm. Cursing is not big and it's not clever...Well, crack these puzzles to prove otherwise.Including 'cros-swear-ds', wordoku, anagrams, word ladders and more, the very adult yet joyfully immature puzzlebook you never knew you needed (until now)

    5 in stock

    £8.54

  • Quebecois Dictionary  Phrasebook English

    Hippocrene Books Inc.,U.S. Quebecois Dictionary Phrasebook English

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis dictionary and phrasebook is designed for students and travelers visiting La Belle Province, eager to immerse themselves in Québécois culture and speak the language that more than 80 percent of Quebecers call their own. Written with the needs of English-speaking Americans and Canadians in mind, this easy-to-use, two-way language guide offers the visitor essential vocabulary and phrases for communicating and navigating with ease. * 4,000 total entries * Basic grammar * Essential phrases * Québécois expressions * Ideal for the traveler, student, or businessperson

    2 in stock

    £9.49

  • Wha Bohked in the Aspadeestra: More of the best

    Luath Press Ltd Wha Bohked in the Aspadeestra: More of the best

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisStrap on yir seatbelts for a brah an’ bumpy ride alang eviry twist an’ turn o’ the Dundonese dehelict.From the vehrus to the V&Eh, from matteramonial matters to shoppin’ – and never forgetting pehzn beans an’ pehzn peas – Wha Bohked in the Aspadeestra? is a delightful slice of the Tayside pie. Peppered with Bob Dewar’s quirky illustrations and salted with Norman Watson’s tongue-in-cheek translations, this wee gem of a book will resonate with Dundonians and their kin the world over.M’wah. E’ve got tae skoot!

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Feckin' Book of Irish Stuff: Céilís, Claddagh

    O'Brien Press Ltd The Feckin' Book of Irish Stuff: Céilís, Claddagh

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThose Feckin' lads are back! Packed full of hilarious banter and craic, The Feckin' Book of Céilís, Come-all-yes, Claddagh Rings and other Blarney is stuffed with topics that the Irish are famous for, whether they like it or not! Includes… The Aran Sweater The Full Irish Breakfast Irish Stew Kissing the Blarney Stone The Bodhran and the craic to be had at Wakes. And many more Trade Review'a great little book ... quirky ... if you know someone far from home and missing the oul’ sod, a copy of this neat little tome in the post might be enough to have them winging their way back home in no time.' -- Irish Examiner'There’s so much to it! ... Lovely to look at ... A lot of people will be getting this in their festive stockings' -- The Tom Dunne Show

    1 in stock

    £7.99

  • Wiltshire Dialect

    Bradwell Books Wiltshire Dialect

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £5.62

  • 'Goanae No Dae That!': The best of the best of

    Luath Press Ltd 'Goanae No Dae That!': The best of the best of

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Scots have a unique way of communicating their feelings. Their sayings are cheeky, to the point, rude and always funny. Scotland’s bestselling humour author is back with his latest collection of hilarious Scottish sayings.‘Away an’ bile yer heid an’ mak silly soup!’‘If you don’t behave ah’ll pawn ye an’ sell the ticket.’‘That wan’s in everything but the Co-operative windae!’‘If ah had your money ah wid burn ma ain.’‘Ye’ve goat a heid oan ye like a stair-heid.’‘The gemme’s a bogie.’‘Yer cruisin’ fur a bruisin’.’‘Ah’m that hungry ah could eat a scabbie-heided horse.’‘Castor oil cures everythin’ but a widden leg.’‘Wan minute yer a peacock an’ the next yer a feather duster.’‘Yer talkin’ mince withoot a tattie in sight.’‘Lang may yer lum reek, an’ may a wee moose never leave yer kitchen press wi’ a tear in its ee.’‘Yer herr’s mingin’, hingin’ an’ clingin’.’From the infallible wisdom of the Glesca Granny, to the hilarious patter of larger-than-life conductress Big Aggie MacDonald, Allan Morrison has a sharp eye and a silver tongue when it comes to observational humour.SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY on Haud Ma Chips, Ah’ve Drapped the Wean!Trade Review.

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • Letters From Your Neighbour Far Away: a powerful

    Crumps Barn Studio Letters From Your Neighbour Far Away: a powerful

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis"Dear neighbour, What a good idea. People don't talk any more ... From your neighbour a long distance away" A connection is forged between people a world apart. Insightful and full of humour, this is a beautiful portrait of a community built by letters.Trade ReviewPraise for Beverley Gordon: "I wanted to saviour every word and pace my way through, but I couldn’t put it down ... this collection is relevant and thought provoking, I laughed I smiled and I thought it was deep ... what a great little read" ~ 5 stars

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • Dorset Dialect

    Bradwell Books Dorset Dialect

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £6.23

  • Travel Slanguage

    Gibbs M. Smith Inc Travel Slanguage

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £11.52

  • Creativity

    Random House USA Inc Creativity

    4 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    4 in stock

    £14.45

  • Adams Media Corporation The Big Black Book of Very Dirty Words

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDescribes over 2,000 of the greatest insults, obscenities, and vulgarities that make you proud to know the English language.

    15 in stock

    £17.82

  • Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Simple Spanish for Beginners Cartoon Vocabulary

    15 in stock

    15 in stock

    £8.78

  • 15 in stock

    £15.93

  • 15 in stock

    £9.99

  • Understand Rap Explanations of Confusing Rap

    Abrams Understand Rap Explanations of Confusing Rap

    Book SynopsisRap music is famous for its double entendres and clever turns of phrase, until now no one has collected rap lyrics into an organised compendium. Enter UNDERSTAND RAP, a funny reference book based on a website of the same name, which explains the confusing terms and lyrics used in rap songs in a language even the most un-hip person can understand

    £7.59

  • How to Talk Teen

    Little, Brown Book Group How to Talk Teen

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhat''s ILL in one place can be WACK in another, or the same word can actually have TOTES different meanings. It''s CRAY CRAY! From KEWL girls hitting on HENCH boys to wannabe gangstas hangin'' with their DOGGS in the ENDZ, teen slang can leave NOOBS CONFUZZLED. If you want to appear DOPE or just want to know WTF is going on, How to Talk Teen is the ultimate guide!Bugly : Short for butt ugly; exceeded on the ugly ranking by dugly and fugly. Pfun: More than mere fun. This is pure fun. Rando: A random person who appears at parties but who no one seems to know, let alone invited.Hiberdating: Disappearing from view because you''re spending almost all your time with your new boyfriend/girlfriend.Nodel: Someone who thinks they look like a model . . . but nobody else does.Rentsy: Acting like parents, i.e. acting responsibly or demonstrating a nauseating taste in music. Trade ReviewFor parents who want to be ahead of the game in speaking teen, this is a must-have book! - parentingwithouttears.com

    5 in stock

    £9.99

  • The Little Book of Bullshit: A Load of Lies too

    Headline Publishing Group The Little Book of Bullshit: A Load of Lies too

    Book SynopsisThe Golden Age of Bullshit.Welcome to the golden age of bullshit, a wiki-wild world knee deep in half-truths and alternative facts, spin and bias, influence and insincerity, little white lies and tall tales, falsehoods and propaganda, and all sorts of other baloney designed to disguise fact from fiction. We live in a post truth, fake news, world where nothing is quite as it seems and everything you read should be seen before believed. But isn't.From Brexit buses to Donald Trump, the University of Google to misleading advertising claims, and everything in-between, the bullshit keeps getting bigger and stronger and the lies are turning truer every day. It's time to call bullshit on bullshit!The Little Book of Bullshit is the ideal antidote everybody needs to fight the influx of excessive lying and cheating and defrauding that has come to define the 21st century, a tiny tome stuffed with delightfully witty snack-sized nuggets of facts and stats and quotes and boasts all related to the ever-expanding world of bullshit."The first rule of bullshit is that it must be believable." Nassim Nicholas Taleb"I'm almost finished..." All of us, at some point in our livesTable of ContentsAlternative Facts - Famous and historic lies in disguise and falsehoods that fooled the world! • The Unbelievable Truth - Stranger-than-fiction facts that are actually true! • Won't Get Fooled Again - The world's biggest bullshit artists, scoundrels, cheats, liars, phoneys and frauds exposed! • We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boast - Quotes and boasts too good to be true! • Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics - World-renowned statistics and irrelevant facts and figures that just don't add up! • Fake News - 'Post truth' stories and news reports that prove you shouldn't believe everything you read.

    £8.50

  • Dae Ye Ken?

    Luath Press Ltd Dae Ye Ken?

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis work is split thematically and includes subjects from clothes (claes) to feelings through food and drink, socialising (gang oot on the toon) and that favourite Scottish topic - the weather. Dae Ye Ken is an illustrated mini Scots/English thesaurus. Fully approved by experts at the Scots Language Resource Centre.

    15 in stock

    £7.30

  • University of the West Indies Press A Dictionary of Jamaican English

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe method and plan of this dictionary of Jamaican English are basically the same as those of the "Oxford English Dictionary", but oral sources have been extensively tapped in addition to detailed coverage of literature published in or about Jamaica since 1655. It contains information about the Caribbean and its dialects, and about Creole languages and general linguistic processes. Entries give the pronounciation, part-of-speach and usage of labels, spelling variants, etymologies and dated citations, as well as definitions. Systematic indexing indicates the extent to which the lexis is shared with other Caribbean countries.

    1 in stock

    £32.21

  • Cambridge University Press Bedders Bulldogs and Bedells

    15 in stock

    a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

    15 in stock

    £24.99

  • Amglish in Like Ten Easy Lessons

    Rowman & Littlefield Amglish in Like Ten Easy Lessons

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisOne of the world''s leading linguists recently wrote: We may be seeing the birth of a new language as yet without a name. He was referencing the new informal mixture of English and other languages being freely formed around the world, with little effort to conform to prescribed rules of grammar, syntax, or spelling. Amglish in, Like, Ten Easy Lessons: A Celebration of the New World Lingo, by Arthur Rowse with illustrations by John Doherty, offers both a name for this new language and an enjoyable guide on how one can learn to use the language through ten easy lessons. The authors describe how Amglish, or American English influenced by online grammar and syntax, has begun to dominate our global language. Featuring an ironic manual on how to use this developing language, Amglish is a light and highly entertaining addition to the recent literature on grammar and punctuation. Illustrated with original drawings throughout, the book shows readers how to improve their Amglish and have funTrade ReviewIn this hysterically funny and well-researched book, Rowse (Drive-By Journalism) tracks the evolution of American English influenced by online grammar and syntax, which he calls 'Amglish.' Drawing from numerous sources, Rowse challenges critics who cling to traditional ways of teaching, writing, and speaking English, especially given the influence of 'texting' language, Internet vernacular, and the aggressive global reach of the language itself. The rules of formal grammar have gone out the window and new words—typically portmanteaus and neologisms, like Sarah Palin's much-blogged 'refudiate'—appear every day. Rowse suggests that there's nothing we can (or should) do to change this new English, and positions himself as an observer who savors the opportunities provided by American English on its rise to global dominance. He pokes gentle fun at figures notorious for their poor use of the language and gleefully explores different mash-up languages (Singlish, Spanglish) that have been spawned from American influence. Readers curious about linguistic evolution, or even those who just want a light-hearted look at modern slang, would do well to pick up this book. * Publishers Weekly *[Rowse's] take on this evolution is more realistic and, yes, decidedly more youthful than my own. He looked hard at what is happening and “chose the positive approach.” And he enlivens that approach with humor, which, along with amusing illustrations by “the world’s greatest caricaturist,” John G. Doherty, makes for an entertaining read. So it is that I say that I’m glad I stuck with the book. In a way its style, a mix of the formal and the informal, and its somewhat fractured structure are its own message: Don’t take yourself too seriously, find pleasure in the new lingo even as you keep control of the old, learn to accept if not embrace this “English in blue jeans,” and . . . have a good day. By the end perhaps the most telling thing I can say is: “Us nitpickers shld better switch than fight.” * The Exeter Bulletin *A glorious romp through the global fields of modern informal English. Arthur Rowse's joyful exploration of the growth in world Amglish is daring, illuminating, playful, and challenging. Whether we love this still-evolving lingo or hate it, we can't possibly ignore it. The task, he concludes in his final lesson, is how best to manage it. -- David Crystal, renowned linguist and author, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of LanguageAmglish is not only here to stay, it's a kind of party, and Arthur E. Rowse shows us how to join in and have fun. Lively, illuminating and totally cool-smart. -- William Powers, author of the Blue Clay People: Seasons on Africa's Fragile EdgeLiving languages exist in a state of flux, improvising in jazzy fashion, lending and borrowing from others while reshuffling syntactical rules. And no language is more dynamic, less cautious than American English, which explains why everyone the world over wants a part of it. Let’s give Arthur Rowse a thank you for his smorgasbord of anecdotes, reflections, and insight. It allows us to appreciate the beautiful linguistic anarchy that is our daily parlance. -- Ilan Stavans, author, Spanglish: The Making of a New American Language and Dictionary DaysWhat an exciting resource for celebrating the multiple avataras of world Englishes in a variety of contexts! Rowse deserves the readers’ applause. -- Braj KachruAmglish is fun to read. * The Book Garden *Table of ContentsChapter 1 Made in the USA Chapter 2 Teachers and Other Pioneers Chapter 3 The New World Lingo Chapter 4 From Revolution to Tsunami Chapter 5 The Lishes of Amglish Chapter 6 Ten Easy Lessons

    10 in stock

    £12.34

  • The Illustrated Histories of Everyday

    HarperCollins Focus The Illustrated Histories of Everyday

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Illustrated Histories of Everyday Expressions uncovers the fascinating, humorous, and often unbelievable origin stories behind the English language's most common sayings!Nobody thinks twice about sayings like bite the bullet and the cat's out of the bag. But the strange and wonderful origins of these expressions are far from arbitrary: They are rooted in forgotten history. Within this book, you will discover the origins of idioms like: Why we say an unwell person is under the weather. It goes back to when sickly sailors and seafarers had to rest below deck! How come sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle is called riding shotgun." In the Wild West, passengers had a crucial job: packing heat and preventing highway robberies! What's up with the phrase, cat got your tongue. Here's a hint: It doesn't have anything to do with cats! With over 100 pieces of original artwork, The Illustrated Histories of Everyday Expressions is as beautiful as it is entertaining and informative. Read up on this fascinating history of the English language's 64 most popular idioms, and you will know what it really means when you say pass with flying colors, bury the hatchet, and rest on your laurels!

    10 in stock

    £12.99

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