Online competition:
Win a copy of What Made the Crocodile Cry by Susie Dent (OUP,
£8.99, also available from Bookshelf)
Susie Dent works with words a great deal and is perhaps best known for her contribution to the Countdown programme. In her work she receives a hefty postbag of questions about the English language and in this, her latest book, she sets out to answer 101 of these questions.
The questions range from asking about the origins of such expressions as ‘short shrift’ and ‘white elephant’ to enquires that have more of a grammatical slant. Whatever the question subject, Susie Dent explains its history, usage and background in a lively and informative way.
Shrift, as she explains, is part of the verb to shrive to give absolution of sin following a confession. A convicted criminal would have only a short time to be given shrift before execution, and hence the term ‘short shrift.’ Meanwhile, in old Siam, White Elephants were regarded a so special that they automatically became owned by the king. It was also an offence to treat them with anything but total luxury. So if the king disliked a courtier he would give him a white elephant, a present that could not be refused but which would ruin the courtier because of the expense of caring for it.
It all adds up to a fascinating read for anyone interested in the English language. And you can win a copy simply by answering this question based on one of the entries in Susie Dent’s book:
How to Enter
You could win a free copy by correctly answering this simple question:
Competition Rules:
The competition will be drawn on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 and the winner will be notified by e-mail
The prizes must be accepted as offered. There can be no alternative awards, cash or otherwise.
Only one entry per household is permitted: multiple entries will be disqualified
Employees and family members of any company associated with this competition are not eligible to enter.
All entries become the property of Warners Group Publications plc. The decision of Warners Group Publications is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Competition is open to everyone except employees of Warners Group Publications or anyone connected with this offer.
The winner of the copy of Faux Pas competition was Bruce Ringrose from West Chiltington.
