Now You Know: The Book of Answers (Now You Know, 1)

Our daily lives are filled with little sayings and habits that we don't think much about. Many of them have their roots in history and were passed down from our ancestors, and though the reasons for them have often been forgotten, they linger still. Have you ever wondered:- Why is there a best man at weddings and why are brides carried over the threshold?- Why is an eager person "gung ho" and a coward "yellow"?- Why is football played on a "gridiron" and a leg injury called a "charley horse"?- Why do the British drive on the left and North Americans on the right?The answers to these questions and the origins of hundreds of other expressions and customs are brought together in this fascinating collection based on the nationally-syndicated radio feature "Now You Know," which reaches a daily audience of over a million Canadians. With all the conciseness of the original radio scripts, Doug Lennox tells you the things you always wanted to know. Annotation Why are golf assistants called caddies? Why do the British drive on the left and North Americans on the right? Why is football played on a 'gridiron', and a leg injury called a 'Charlie horse'? The answers to these questions and the origins of hundreds of other expressions and customs are brought together in this fascinating collection of the history behind everyday words and routines. With all the conciseness of his original radio scripts, Doug Lennox 'cuts to the quick' in telling you the things you always wanted to know ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 8 CONTENTS......Page 10 INTRODUCTION......Page 12 PEOPLE & PLACES......Page 14 POP CULTURE......Page 28 CUSTOMS......Page 40 SPORTS & LEISURE......Page 52 POLITICS & HISTORY......Page 64 WAR & MILITARY......Page 76 HOLIDAYS......Page 88 ANIMALS......Page 96 BELIEFS & SUPERSTITIONS......Page 108 WORDS......Page 116 EXPRESSIONS......Page 130 TRIVIA......Page 150 During the 1940s, Robert Emmerich, who played piano in the Tommy Dorsey Band, wrote an obscure song called "The Big Apple."