The slipcase contains four titles - Dictionary of Idioms, Dictionary of Proverbs, Dictionary of Word Origins and Dictionary of English Down the Ages - between them, over 1,000 pages of information about the origins and meanings of words and phrases in the English language, selected because they have a story to tell that will fascinate the browser as well as satisfying the scholar and serious student. Each title describes the origins and meanings of the chosen word or phrase, giving alternatives and informed speculation where the exact facts are unclear and illustrating usage with modern quotations. Mini-essays scattered through the books enable the authors to expand on broader themes such as What is an idiom?, The Old Curiosity Shop of Linguistics and Portmanteau Words.