“In alphabetical order the author has gone through a great number of names and phrases heard in everyday speech, colloquialisms and expressions and references of less usual occurrence, explaining in brief statement their origin and meaning. In the preface the author says that his sole design has been to account for the origin of popular phrases and names.”—N. Y. Times.
“This is a very curious book that teems with every possible kind of error. Had it been much elaborated and compiled by a man of learning it might have been useful; the hotch-potch before us is almost too bad to serve as a groundwork for a book of reference.”
| − | Acad. 72: 136. F. 9, ’07. 890w. |
“The book is uncritical in its popular derivations, many of which have been long exploded; and extremely careless in quoting foreign languages. It is difficult to believe that the author knows Latin or Greek. If he does, he ought to have seen that some care was taken with his ‘proofs.’”
| − | Ath. 1907, 1: 223. F. 23. 140w. |
“Compact and handy volume.”
| + | N. Y. Times. 12: 434. Jl. 6, ’07. 280w. |
“It is one of those books which, once you start to read, lure you on from page to page and you rise longing to trip up your friends on all sorts and kinds of catchy little points.”
| − | Sat. R. 103: 340. Mr. 16, ’07. 270w. |