Ostler applies her doctorate in linguistics to entertainingly trace the origin and usage of some 150 distinctly American figures of speech organized into the categories of: the natural world (e.g., "talk turkey"); business, politics, and society at large ("wheel and deal"); culture and amusements ("cash in your chips"); and the home front ("paint the town red"). Indexing is by phrase. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)