Insulting English [Hardcover]

Peter Novobatzky (Author), Ammon Shea (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 9, 2001

At last, a compendium of ingeniously insulting words for every occasion.

For anyone who's been stymied by the level of sloth, bad looks and low intelligence of his fellow man (and woman), help is on the way. You can't change the tiresome creatures around you, but now you can describe them behind their backs with pleasing specificity.

Yes, Insulting English is a user's guide to little-known and much-needed words that include:

Gubbertush: Buck-toothed person
Hogminny: A depraved young woman
Nihilarian: Person with a meaningless job
Pursy: Fat and short of breath
Scombroid: Resembling a mackerel
Tumbrel: A person who is drunk to the point of vomiting

These and many other gems from our colorful mother tongue are collected on these pages. Now every gink, knipperdollin, and grizely dunderwhelp can be called by his rightful name.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

More humor than reference, this unique dictionary lists insults so obscure and unusual, that if used, the recipient won't understand the insult or even recognize the offense. However, the reader is meant merely to enjoy perusing this book and not actually to put it to use. Novobatzky and Shea, who collaborated previously on Depraved English (St. Martin's, 2001), claim no professional linguistic credentials. They compiled this work by combing through dictionaries of all sorts medical, slang, centuries-old, etc. and acknowledge that their selections are so bizarre that even the most recognized examples are rarely seen in print. Entries consist of pronunciation, definition, and an example of how used; each displays the author's wit, cleverness, and preposterous sense of humor. Unless reference patrons are asking for the meanings of words like "knipperdollin," "shotclog," or "draffsack," this purchase is optional. This book has a place in circulating public library collections where word humor is appreciated and sensibilities are not too delicate. Katie Sasser, Bowdoin Coll. Lib., Brunswick, ME
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Depraved English is anything but depraved. Don't believe the title. It's a book on language you an read on subway, bus, and plane-though you have to be ready for surprised looks when you laugh out loud or give little yelps of joy. Your choller will wobble as you pick at your gound and, even after, flat English will give you an attack of rectalgia. If someone is majoring in English, give him or her this book. Give it to your randy grandma." --Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes and 'Tis

"Delicious and disgusting by turns, Depraved English is an invaluable and cleverly worked vade macum for those millions of us who (a) are fascinated by sex and (b) enjoy insulting people. No intelligent home should be without it." --Simon Winchester, author of The Professor and the Madman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (June 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312272081
• ISBN-13: 978-0312272081
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,882,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful, empowering, strange, funny, June 19, 2001

By 

SHEILAH (Peoria, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insulting English (Hardcover)

This innocent-looking little hardcover book will arm you with wonderful, little-known words that are perfect for describing all mannner of offensive people (compulsive shouters, men who wear too much cologne, unpleasant drinking companions tolerated only because they are buying the booze, and on and on). Surprises abound in this no-holds-barred tour of the rich underbelly of our language. Everyone will find something useful and funny in it. in it. Nicely illustrated, with amusing sample sentences, anecdotes and histories of the words included. A cool gift.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No decency here, thank god, June 9, 2001

By 

joseph welch (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insulting English (Hardcover)

Glossaries of obscure words are not generally regarded as being within the most humorous of genres but Insulting English proves to be the exception. Finally, a book that enables one to increase one's vocabulary and learn how to better verbally eviscerate one's fellow man in one fell swoop. At long last the fetid treasure trove that is the English language has been laid open to the masses.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A swimmingly good read!!!, December 19, 2001

By 

J.G. Langenschneider (Seattle, Wash.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insulting English (Hardcover)

There is only one thing that need be said about this book and that is that it is funny. It is laugh out loud when you're reading it alone funny. It is also deliciously vulgar. Not quite too good to be true, but almost.