Name Dropping : A No-Nonsense Guide to the Use of Names in Everyday Language

Ever had a Hitchcockian experience (in the shower perhaps?!) or met someone with a distinctly Ortonesque outlook on life?

There are hundreds of words derived from real people who are famous - or infamous - enough to give their stamp to a movement, a way of thinking or acting, a style or even a mood. "Name Dropping" is an essential guide to the better known or more intriguing of these terms from figures in politics, sport, and the arts.

It is a valuable, interesting and often humorous resource for those looking for definitions or simply browsing for pleasure.

Entries are listed alphabetically with full explanations, examples from the press and other media, guidance on usage and a 'Pretentiousness Index.'