Middlechester Chronicles and the Story of Idioms (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9791098587320)

A witty and satirical look at the origins of English idioms told through stories.

Frankie Lidstrom was never supposed to be mayor.

He's too charming, too honest, and far too lazy. Now that he is, can he save Middlechester from corruption, the onslaught of AI, and a zombie movie gone wrong?

Every day you take the bull by the horns, throw your hat into the ring, and eat a square meal. But where do these idioms come from?

The Story of Idioms:

This is your guide to the meaning and stories behind 347 common English idioms. The result of years of meticulous research, it debunks fantastical folk etymologies and reveals the true origins of the expressions we use every day.

Unlike a traditional dictionary, the book combines reference material with narrative fiction. Throughout, readers follow the unfolding events in the town of Middlechester, learning idioms in context through short dialogue scenes written in a play-script format, with characters speaking directly to one another.

This format also makes the book suitable for classroom use, as the dialogues can be read aloud and used as part of speaking, comprehension, or language practice activities.

It's a reference book, a hilarious satirical tale and features 23 illustrations from comic artist Sam Hewitt.

Never has learning about the English language and history been so entertaining. This book is for learners of English (ESL) language lovers, history buffs and anyone who enjoys a good yarn.

Gideon Ben-Ami's YouTube channel LetThemTalkTV currently has over 630,000 subscribers and over 50 million views. It's been inspiring students of English and word nerds for over 10 years.