The Oxford Dictionary of Catch

A catchphrase is a set of words that have come to be associated, over time and through repeated usage, with a particular individual or group, or maybe an event. From "Can I do you now, sir?" and "Thunderbirds are GO" to "Eat my shorts!", "Who loves ya, baby" and "Booyakasha!", this book gives the history of a selection of our best-loved catchphrases, paying homage to the human ...

A catchphrase is a set of words that have come to be associated, over time and through repeated usage, with a particular individual or group, or maybe an event. From "Can I do you now, sir?" and "Thunderbirds are GO" to "Eat my shorts!", "Who loves ya, baby" and "Booyakasha!", this book gives the history of a selection of our best-loved catchphrases, paying homage to the human nature of adopting a common bond through language. The volume includes coverage of both UK and US catchphrases, from a wide variety of media. Entries are often backed up by citations of usage and give interesting information on their origins. A source index enables readers to look up entries from one particular source, while a source information section gives a background description of shows, films, or books that are cited three or more times.