This collection investigates the linguistic void in the English language by identifying common, everyday experiences that lack a formal name. Rich Hall, a comedian and writer, utilizes his observational humor to catalog these missing words, which he terms 'sniglets,' providing definitions and etymological jokes for each entry. The work argues that language should evolve to accommodate the specific, often mundane, frustrations of modern life.

Readers frequently note the lighthearted and accessible nature of the prose, which serves as a staple of 1980s observational humor. Experts highlight this as a foundational text for the genre of invented-word comedy, often cited for its influence on subsequent pop-culture wordplay.