Holy Cow!: Doggerel, Catnaps, Scapegoats, Foxtrots, and Horse Feathers--Splendid Animal Words and Phrases

We love animals but insult humans by calling them everything from weasels or pigs to sheep, mice, chickens, sharks, snakes, and bird-brains. Animal epithets, words, and phrases are so widespread we often take them for granted or remain ignorant of the fascinating stories and facts behind them.

Spanning the entire animal kingdom, Holy Cow! explains:

• Why hot dogs are named after canines.
• Why people talk turkey or go cold turkey.
• Why curiosity killed the cat, although dogs are more curious abo...