#Review: Stories of Words and Phrases by Sumanto Chattopadhyay

Stories of Words and Phrases
Author: Sumanto Chattopadhyay (TheEnglishNut)
Publisher: Rupa Publications
Rating: 5/5

I’ve been following TheEnglishNut, Sumantho Chattopadhyay, for years now, and what has always struck me is the sheer joy with which he makes words dance. His posts and videos have been my steady companions in this journey of discovering the quirks of English—and somewhere along the way, I’ve happily admitted to becoming a logophile myself.

Stories of Words and Phrases feels like the natural extension of his love for language. It’s not a dry dictionary, nor a heavy-handed academic text—it’s a lively backstage pass into the etymology and evolution of words we use every day without stopping to wonder about their past. From the Persian roots of khaki to the Shakespearean bite behind crocodile tears, from the origin of Bluetooth to the 4th Earl of Sandwich’s lasting culinary legacy, every page offers a mix of history, humour, and aha-moments.

What I particularly admire is the sensibility with which the book is collated. It flows like a river—sometimes playful, sometimes reflective, always purposeful. The merits lie not just in the information but in the storytelling: the way idiomatic expressions and everyday phrases are peeled back to reveal centuries of cultural mingling, wit, and wisdom.

If you’ve ever laughed at “the cat got your tongue,” rolled your eyes at something sounding “all Greek,” or wondered why a sandwich is called a sandwich—this book is your answer key wrapped in amusement. As Ruskin Bond says on the cover, it is a delightful exploration for those who love the English language and its many surprises.

For me, it’s more than just a book—it’s a reminder of why I started loving words in the first place.

Find the book here.