From first-time author Campbell Jessop, Sayings & Their Stories uncovers the fascinating origins and histories behind our favorite every day sayings!
From discovering why coffee is called a “cup of Joe” to the comical story of how “paint the town red” came to be, Sayings & Their Stories will take readers on a fascinating and entertaining journey through the history of common phrases we use every day and how they have changed over time.
Through fun anecdotes, engaging stories, and surprising histories, Sayings & Their Stories helps readers deepen their understanding of the many colorful expressions we use to enhance the English language. Whether you are a language enthusiast or someone interested in learning the history behind our words, this book will surely take you the “whole nine yards.”
It all started from a list…
While growing up in Marietta, Georgia, Campbell heard all sorts of obscure phrases used by family members, teachers, and friends. Some of the phrases he heard were just too good to let go unnoticed. So, at the age of 15, he began keeping a list of all the colorful and nonsensical sayings he heard. By the time he was in college, Campbell started researching the origins and histories behind the thousands of sayings on his ever-growing list while in his dorm room.
While in college and researching these sayings, he met his now fiancée, Lauren Rapp, who also took up an interest in etymology. Lauren began sketching illustrations for each saying that Campbell researched to compliment the sayings’ meanings and histories.
Eight years after creation of “the list,” Sayings & Their Stories was finished. Campbell and Lauren are now both 24 years old and live in Nashville, Tennessee.