She Literally Exploded: The "Daily Telegraph" Infuriating Phrasebook

I disagree with most of the adverse comments,as I found the book very funny. But it could have done with being about double the length.

Like another reviewer wrote, I too had higher hopes for this book than it actually delivers.

The title "She literally Exploded", subtitle "Infuriating Phrasebook" and associated blurb led me to believe this little book was going to be about generally humorous expressions of speech where people unwittingly say (upon closer analysis) pretty absurd things.

My personal favourite (which is not cited in this book) is the often heard; "it's always the last place you look." WELL, OF COURSE IT IS! Once you find something, you're not going to keep looking for it!

Or pet-hate; the age-old betrayer of a lazy attitude, "better the devil you know" - if what you know you already know to be a 'devil', change it, you might end up with an angel! (The worst that can happen is you end up with a different devil. So change that one too).

Or how about "getting out of bed on the wrong side" used as though it's a legitimate explanation for rudeness!

Once you get started, it's not too difficult to start making a list of odd expressions, but the authors couldn't be bothered doing this. In fact, the majority of 'phrases' are not phrases at all but single word entries and even these are not humorous.

This unfunny word compilation (the best of the actual phrases are already scattered around this page) is most likely to receive support from friends and colleagues of the authors. Everyone else, infuriatingly, may literally end up exploding.

For me this little book was a pleasure and I got more out of it than some other reviewers appear to have done. I smiled lots, nodded sagely in places and even laughed out loud once or twice.
Some of my favourite 'infuriating phrases' are here, including train conductors who tautologically inform you of 'the next station stop' where you must remember to take your 'personal belongings'; also, people who say 'My bad' when they think they've made a mistake (what are you, a Californian Valley Girl from 1995!?). Or waiters who command 'Enjoy' before you start your meal.
Sure, many of the phrases aren't actually INFURIATING; they're also mildly irritating and just plain wrong. Which is the case with the title, She Literally Exploded (which, incidentally, I don't think is a very good title because it implies that the book is more about improper rather than infuriating use of language - see instead Private Eye's Colemanballs books which have whole sections on dunderheads using the word 'literally' incorrectly).
In summary, an enjoyable book, one to browse by the fireside around Christmas time. Pity it's now February but never mind.

This pocket-sized, stocking-filler format book aims to highlight annoying or nonsensical phrases used repeatedly in the media or conversation. I had high hopes for it, in the wake of Lynne Truss's "Eats, Shoots and Leaves".

Unfortunately, it is let down by its own pedancy. For example, I don't see anything wrong in saying, "His trademark red sweater", rather than "His habitual red sweater". And in such a short book there isn't any need to provide cross references, yet there are dozens of them, weighing down the fun quota.

I'm a fan of Matt but there aren't nearly enough of his illustrations to lift the tone: one cartoon per phrase would have been a lot better. Overall, a missed opportunity.

I couldn't help laughing at some of the hundreds of ridiculous phrases listed here that we're all tempted to use, such as, "First invented by. The second inventor is deservedly less well known." Other phrases are treated in a more pointed way, somewhat in the manner of Ambrose Bierce's Devil's Dictionary: "Quality time. Something to spend with a spouse or children. An excuse for depriving them of the quantity of time they are due. Leftover food is not yet called quality food."

She Literally Exploded (a brilliant title) costs the same, on Amazon at least, as a couple of pints and gave me considerably more pleasure. I'm also a fan of Matt Pritchett's always inventive cartoons and he's on good form illustrating infuriating phrases from "Bear with me" to "Skills gap".

An entertaining and fun present to get for anyone.