''ONLY 48% OF 14-YEAR-OLDS KNOW WHO BIGGLES IS' Survey of British Schoolchildren, 1996' You may find the above information startling, but do you know what's meant when Ann Widdecombe MP is described as 'Verrucca Salt', Nastassia Kinski is called a beautiful 'woodentop', or why Tony Benn called Harold Wilson the 'Archie Rice' of British Politics? If you have trouble with the above allusions, or can't remember where Brave New World came from, or who Skippy was, or why children talk about the 'Demon Headmaster', help is at hand in this highly entertaining dictionary of allusions. * The essential guide to allusions in everyday speech, from 'Oedipus' to the 'Power Rangers' * Subjects range from 'Classical Mythology,' the 'Bible' and 'Shakespeare', to 'Roald Dahl, Blade Runner, Rosa Kleb, Yoda,' and 'Mr Tumnus' * The ideal gift for anyone interested in language and culture, from students to speechwriters