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
Very Funny:
If you grew up with Yiddish speaking relatives, this is great. Even if you didn't it's still hysterical. Yiddish is a really funny language. For those of you not familiar with it, it is a hodge-podge of Hebrew and German. It was a language that united Jews by giving them a common language in Europe and Russia. A lot of the vernacular, expressions, words, etc. have made it into the American style of English language. I laughed my rear end off with this one.
Just okay.:
The book is okay, but missing contextual meaning. I bought it to refresh my memory of words and expressions since I don't hear it used very often.
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.
