Susie Dent is here to take children on a rip-roaring tour through some of the most astonishing, amusing and sometimes quite revolting backgrounds of English words. Did you know, for instance, that 'fizzle' originally meant to break wind silently? Over time, it came to describe a weak, spluttering, hissing sound. And you might think that 'ain't' isn't a word you should use, but it is thought the word was once used by kings and queens. As Susie Dent knows, even the most ordinary-sounding word can have the most extraordinary story behind it.

 

There are 176 pages in this book. This book was published 2013 by Scholastic .

Sue Dent is an experienced teacher and an assistant examiner for Key Skills. She is the Curriculum & Resources Manager for St Helen's College, Merseyside. She has been responsible for implementing the College Key Skills policy and delivering staff development on Key Skills both within and outside the College.