Butter the fish

Don't spin sailor's yarns - this proverb guide is well-versed in all waters! In the sea of everyday language, numerous maritime expressions often swim unnoticed. For example, if a friend drops by who loves to take detours in his speech and can't find a common thread, it's better to lower the sails before he reaches a bitter end. Rolf-Bernhard Essig, the "Indiana Jones of linguistic treasures," shares in his book the curious and exciting stories behind these and many other expressions. Readers will learn why someone is beating around the bush or going full throttle, what Noah's Ark has to do with language and words, or how the torpedoing of projects relates to the electric ray. Congenially - because indeed: "As the ship, so the sails" - Papan has compiled a variety of the treasures collected by Rolf-Bernhard Essig.