title: The Facts on File Dictionary of Cliches: Meanings and Origins of Thousands of Terms and Expressions, Third Ed. (Writer's Library)
author: Christine Ammer
description: Christine Ammer is the author of more than three dozen popular reference books on subjects ranging from classical music to women's health. For the past 20 years, she has concentrated on language. Her other books on words and phrases include The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms; Cool Cats, Top Dogs, and Other Beastly Expressions; Fighting Words: From War, Rebellion, and Other Combative Capers; and Fruitcakes and Couch Potatoes and Other Delicious Expressions. She also writes a column on terms from military history for Military History Quarterly. She lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.
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  * * *
  
  Certain Personal Matters
  
  
  [CERTAIN PERSONAL
  MATTERS](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos8816)
  
  
    
    
  [THOUGHTS ON CHEAPNESS AND MY AUNT
  CHARLOTTE](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos8949)  
    
  [THE TROUBLE OF
  LIFE](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos18354)  
    
  [ON THE CHOICE OF A
  WIFE](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos30721)  
    
  [THE HOUSE OF DI
  SORNO](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos38934)  
    
  [OF CONVERSATION](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos48654)  
    
  [IN A LITERARY
  HOUSEHOLD](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos58288)  
    
  [ON SCHOOLING AND THE PHASES OF MR.
  SANDSOME](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos66389)  
    
  [THE POET AND THE
  EMPORIUM](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos74840)  
    
  [THE LANGUAGE OF
  FLOWERS](Certain%20Personal%20Matters_split_002.html#filepos85277)  
    
  [THE LITERARY