Cross-language dictionary of insults?
 

In a friend's summer house, once, I came across a dictionary of insults in something like 5-6 languages -- English, French, German, Italian, and perhaps Russian. Does anyone recognize this description and know the name of the book (it would be quite old by now)? I believe it was published in England, but not sure. Or can anyone point me to a similar book?<BR><BR>It was, of course, completely tongue-in-cheek and very creative, with instructions on how to insult bellhops, concierges, barbers, etc. etc. I think I can reconstruct one memorable phrase from the French (spelling and grammar very rusty) to use with an eager doorman: &quot;Ne touchez-pas ma valise, espece de macaque!&quot;

I didn't, but typing a few words in amazon.com, I believe I found it (especially since it was published in UK). Probably &quot;The Insult Dictionary&quot;, McGraw Hill pub. It is out of print but you can find it on used book sites.<BR><BR>I wouldn't use that French phrase myself. That is an insult, not just tongue-in-cheek, and I've seen it used as a racial slur.

That's a great idea to travel with this kind of dictionary! Going to Borders on my lunch break...<BR><BR>Somebody asked what gift would be appropriate to bring from USA?

Thanks, Christina -- and thanks for warning re:that insult. I wouldn't have used any of them, I assure you and everyone else, and I wouldn't have known the racial content. My memory of the book was that it was just sort of a litany of absurd accusations a la Monty Python -- &quot;your mother is a wombat with cufflinks&quot;! - etc.

I own a copy of a fun book titled &quot;Wicked Italian for the Traveler&quot;, by Howard Tomb, Workman Publishing Company, Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003. It's a riot, and includes phrases such as &quot;Buzz off, garlic breath&quot;, &quot;Your breasts are like melons from Tuscany&quot;, and &quot;The Sicilian sun has cooked your brain.&quot; You might want to check if they print similar books in languages other than Italian.

Hi soccr,<BR> I think that the phrase &quot;espece de macaque&quot; could be roughly translated as &quot;spawn of a monkey&quot;, which is not just poking fun.<BR><BR>