Who Said That First? by Max Cryer

Reviews and Media:

REVIEWS

Click here to watch Max Cryer's interview on TV1 Good Morning.

Click here to watch Hazel Phillips on TV1 Breakfast's 5-star review 'Books to make you smarter'.

Click here to watch Max Cryer's interview on Sunrise TV.

Click here to watch Max Cryer's interview on CTV Good Living.

Click here to watch Max Cryer's interview on Television Hawke's Bay.

To read the Sunday Star-Times feature extract click here (586kb)

'It is the incidental information and comment, stylishly presented, that make this book so engrossing; and, as anyone who knows his work would expect, Cryer brings a satisfying kind of orderly elegance to every sentence he writes.' Gordon McLauchlan, Canvas, Weekend Herald

'Writer, entertainer and broadcaster Max Cryer puts his passion for the English language to very good use in Who Said That First? If you've ever stopped tow onder where everyday expressions such as "cooking the books" and "bad hair day" come from, you'll probably find the answer in this entertaining and informative book. The word "Google" for example, entered the lexicon only in 1998 – where did it come from? Did you know that the word cleavage replaced décolletage in 1945 and was used to describe "the shadowed depression dividing an actress's bosom into two distinct sections" by one Joseph I Breen, the Hollywood censor of the time? Trot out such pearlers at your next dinner party or swot it up for your next quiz night.' KiaOra magazine

'Max Cryer has for years revelled in discussing on radio the idiosyncrasies and glorious inconsistencies of the English language.
His scholarship, rulings and good humour have resulted in many listeners passing on to him questions and their own knowledge of the English vocabulary and its often illogical variants.
Having produced three books reflecting his love of language, Cryer has now compiled Who Said That First?, a delightful cornucopia in which he has great fun in discussing the frequent varied origins of expressions most of us toss off automatically, without a second thought.
Cryer's research has yielded a rich treasure-trove. The origins of a host of words and phrases are discussed with flair.' – Clarke Issacs, former chief of staff, Otago Daily Times

'The veteran entertainer and word-master, who still hosts a weekly private radio slot exploring the English language, is as polished and meticulous as ever. His relaxed, conversational tone flows easily on the page as he succinctly outlines the origins of words and expressions as diverse as "you can't have your cake and eat it too", personal computer, couch potato, cyberspace and "I smell a rat". Nelson Mail

'This is just the book for dipping into to satisfy your curiosity or settle an argument.' Bay of Plenty Times

'Cryer is undoubtedly New Zealand's prime exponent of the quirks and foibles of the English language, whether the Queen's own or Kiwi variations. Now he has turned his attention to the true begetters of well-known words and phrases. You'll be hornswoggled and gobsmacked by his revelations.
This is the perfect book for dipping into during those few solitary moments we can claim from our busy days and ideal to settle arguments as to the origins of a particular phrase.
Cryer has put together a fascinating exploration of expressions we use without thinking whence they came. It's a gem.' Daily Post

'This book has at least three great uses – as a gift, a catchy book to dip into when you have a moment, or for leaving around the house as a conversation starter. Or maybe even bone up on it before your next dinner party. Singer, entertainer, TV quiz host and writer Max Cryer has taken hundreds of sayings and explained how they came about. The selected 500-plus phrases include many that are centuries old, through to the redcent, including Yahoo and a comedy line about Sarah Palin.' Waikato Times

'Having enjoyed Max Cryer revealing the stories behind the world’s favourite songs in Love Me Tender, it wasn’t "touch and go" (Hugh Latimer 1549), but a "no-brainer" (Carl Grubert 1959) that I would find this follow-up book on the source of well-known phrases intriguing. I’m not sure who might be interested in the origins of ear candy, mondegreen, or grace under pressure, but the source of most phrases is often surprising, risque or simply fun to explore. For example, popular culture vultures might not know Daeda Wilcox, but in 1887 she told her realtor husband about an attractive name she heard mentioned on a train as she returned to her Los Angeles home. Her husband also liked it and called the land he owned nearby Hollywood. As one with more than a passing interest in wine, I was intrigued to find that "any port in a storm" has a distinctly rude origin from Fanny Hill (1749). Goons fans will already be familiar with "the dreaded lurgy", but Max writes with such wit and charm that even ones you do know might have you "grinning like a Cheshire cat" (Peter Pindar 1795).' – Charles Gill, Daily News

'Max Cryer is undoubtedly New Zealand’s prime exponent of the quirks and foibles of the English language, whether the Queens’ own or Kiwi variations. Now he has turned his attention to the onlie true begetters of well-known words and phrases. You’ll be hornswoggled and gobsmacked by his revelations. ... And all credit to Cryer himself: he has put together a fascinating exploration of expressions we use daily without thinking whence they came.
I kid you not. It’s a gem.' – Jenny Argante, Bravado Magazine

'This latest title in the popular 'history of language' genre attempts to identify the original sources of some of the most common expressions in the English language. We all use them, or at least we've heard of them, but where did they come from and who used them first? Written in a lively, entertaining style, Who Said That First? is not a heavy, intellectual read but rather the kind of book you flick through when you have a moment free. To provide some background: author Max Cryer's career has spanned the globe and run the gamut from television producer, entertainment producer and broadcaster to singer, cabaret performer and author. Now based in New Zealand, Cryer's weekly radio session (Radio Live), on air since 1997, has answered thousands of listeners' questions on the English language and is the likely inspiration for this little guide. While it's a little early to think of Christmas, this book is a perfect stocking filler or training tool for a trivia night!' Bookseller and Publisher