They're the everyday phrases that we all love to hate - and all love to use. Author Nigel Fountain cuts to the chase and tells us what they really mean Mail on Sunday Guides the reader through the origins, histories and meanings of cliches in every form The Oldie

Nigel Fountain is a writer, broadcaster and journalist who has written for many publications, including The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times, The New Statesman, The Oldie, the London Evening Standard, the New York Soho Weekly News, History Today, New Society, Oz magazine and Time Out. His documentary work for Radio 4 and BBC2 has ranged from style magazines and the history of thrillers to dance halls and the events of 1968. He was a commissioning obituaries editor on The Guardian for many years, and co-editor of City Limits magazine. His books include: Days Like These (a novel); two volumes from the 'Voices From the Twentieth Century' series, Women at War and The Battle of Britain and the Blitz; Underground: The London Alternative Press 1966-74; Lost Empires: The Phenomenon of Theatres Past, Present And Future; and the award-winning WWII: The People's Story. He read Politics at York University.