This work investigates the prevalence and linguistic degradation of overused phrases, idioms, and classical tags within the English language. Eric Partridge, a renowned lexicographer and expert in English etymology and slang, utilizes his extensive background in philology to categorize and critique the erosion of original meaning in common parlance. The book serves as both a catalog of linguistic decay and a cautionary guide for writers seeking to avoid the pitfalls of trite expression.

Experts and linguists regard this text as a foundational reference for understanding the history of English idioms and the mechanics of stylistic cliché. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and dry wit Partridge employs to dismantle common linguistic habits.