One doesn't have to be Jewish to recognize the words that have made their way into every fold of popular language: Chutzpah, Mensch, Tokhes, Mishmash, Nudge, Shtick, Schmaltzy, Schlep, Icky, and so on. Then there are phrases whose meaning and syntax are borrowed from Yiddish: "bite your tongue", "drop dead", "enough already", and "excuse the expression". This hilarious, concise guide includes chapters on the Basic Descriptions of People (the good, the bad, the ugly, and the goofy), the Fine Art of Cursing, Juicy Words and Phrases, Exclamations and Exasperations, and the Fine Art of Blessing.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Drek: The Real Yiddish:
Just a cursory look at few pages brings back memories of my long departed mother who was an immigrant from Poland.
Laugh a little!?:
This is a very funny book, I enjoyed it a lot and plan to share it with all my crazy relatives.
Drek!:
I had hoped for something more than this skinny, undersized volume. to spin an old gag, "Life is a drek sandwich. Sometimes you get more bread... sometimes you get more drek." Not too much drek in this sandwich. For instance I wanted a definition of "Yutz." I had to go to Google to find it. And a couple of other terms that have more than one meaning left those alternatives unlisted.
But it's better than no sandwich at all. And I found other volumes I might invesetigate later, if I find myself in need... more info
contents:
What a fun book!! Easy to remember words with the translations right next to them. Even some history on the language of Yiddish. Very enjoyable.
