A Dictionary of Uncomfortable Words: What to Avoid Saying in Polite (or Any) Conversation
Andrew Witham and Brian Snyder
contains more than 650 words and definitions that make people uncomfortable when in public. These are not dirty words, but rather uncomfortable words like "dike," "flaccid," or "penal."
"Over the years," the authors write, "we have repeatedly found ourselves stifling laughter at certain words, such as 'tool,' 'dump,' and 'moist.' Other words such as 'spackle,' 'loaf,' and 'frothy' sound plain peculiar. And still other words, while perfectly harmless, like 'masticate,' 'climax,' and 'undulate,' made us want to hide our heads in shock. We noticed that a lot of other people had the same reactions. They're not dirty words, but they cause a markedly uncomfortable reaction in a group."
Realizing a dictionary was necessary to alert the public, they created A Dictionary of Uncomfortable Words. Each word is followed by a brief explanation of why it makes people uneasy when spoken, such as:
- Abhor: Looks innocuous enough on paper but utterly filthy when spoken aloud.
- Bull: In most circles, this word is merely a prefix. We prefer the term "man-cow."
- Congeal: Just because gooey becomes crusty doesn't mean we want to hear about it.
- Crotch: This word is disturbing even when referring to trees.
- Dingleberry: This is one fruit you don't want to eat.
- Half-cocked: Sounds like a circumcision that went too far.
- Horehound: A drunk with too much money in his pocket on Saturday night.
| ANDREW WITHAM is a screenwriter and real estate broker in West Hollywood. He has made his living since graduating college by writing screenplays for the entertainment industry. He is proud to call himself a professional storyteller, and prouder still to be married to his beautiful wife, Gloria. |
| BRIAN SNYDER is graphics editor at the Ventura County Star in Ventura, California. Also a graduate of Indiana University and a lifelong fan of Ernie Pyle, the Hoosier World War II journalist, he lives in Oxnard, California, the Pearl of the Pacific. |
$9.99, Hardcover
ISBN-10: 1-58182-427-0 (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 978-1-58182-427-8 (Hardcover)
Hardcover Currently Available
