Kindle Price: $7.99

Save $9.01 (53%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the authors

John Lloyd
Follow
Douglas Adams
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Deeper Meaning of Liff: A Dictionary of Things There Aren't Any Words for Yet--But There Ought to Be Kindle Edition

by Douglas Adams (Author), John Lloyd (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 770 ratings
See all formats and editions
A rollicking, thought-provoking dictionary for the modern age, featuring definitions for those things we don't have words for, from the New York Times bestselling author behind The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams, and TV producer John Lloyd.

Does the sensation of Tingrith(1) make you yelp? Do you bend sympathetically when you see someone Ahenny(2)? Can you deal with a Naugatuck(3) without causing a Toronto(4)? Will you suffer from Kettering(5) this summer?

Probably. You are almost certainly familiar with all these experiences but just didn’t know that there are words for them. Well, in fact, there aren’t—or rather there weren’t, until Douglas Adams and John Lloyd decided to plug these egregious linguistic lacunae(6). They quickly realized that just as there are an awful lot of experiences that no one has a name for, so there are an awful lot of names for places you will never need to go to. What a waste. As responsible citizens of a small and crowded world, we must all learn the virtues of recycling(7) and put old, worn-out but still serviceable names to exciting, vibrant, new uses. This is the book that does that for you: The Deeper Meaning of Liff—a whole new solution to the problem of Great Wakering(8)

1—The feeling of aluminum foil against your fillings.

2—The way people stand when examining other people’s bookshelves.

3—A plastic packet containing shampoo, mustard, etc., which is impossible to open except by biting off
the corners.

4—Generic term for anything that comes out in a gush, despite all your efforts to let it out carefully, e.g., flour into a white sauce, ketchup onto fish, a dog into the yard, and another naughty meaning that we can’t put on the cover.

5—The marks left on your bottom and thighs after you’ve been sitting sunbathing in a wicker chair.

6—God knows what this means

7—For instance, some of this book was first published in Britain twenty-six years ago.

8—Look it up yourself.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Crown Archetype
  5. Publication date
    April 26, 2005
  6. File size
    68873 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Does the sensation of Tingrith(1) make you yelp? Do you bend sympathetically when you see someone Ahenny(2)? Can you deal with a Naugatuck(3) without causing a Toronto(4)? Will you suffer from Kettering(5) this summer?
Probably. You are almost certainly familiar with all these experiences but just didn't know that there are words for them. Well, in fact, there aren't--or rather there weren't, until Douglas Adams and John Lloyd decided to plug these egregious linguistic lacunae(6). They quickly realized that just as there are an awful lot of experiences that no one has a name for, so there are an awful lot of names for places you will never need to go to. What a waste. As responsible citizens of a small and crowded world, we must all learn the virtues of recycling(7) and put old, worn-out but still serviceable names to exciting, vibrant, new uses. This is the book that does that for you: "The Deeper Meaning of Liff--a whole new solution to the problem of Great Wakering(8)

1--The feeling of aluminum foil against your fillings.
2--The way people stand when examining other people's bookshelves.
3--A plastic packet containing shampoo, mustard, etc., which is impossible to open except by biting off
the corners.
4--Generic term for anything that comes out in a gush, despite all your efforts to let it out carefully, e.g., flour into a white sauce, ketchup onto fish, a dog into the yard, and another naughty meaning that we can't put on the cover.
5--The marks left on your bottom and thighs after you've been sitting sunbathing in a wicker chair.
6--God knows what this means
7--For instance, some of this book was first published in Britain twenty-six years ago.
8--Look it up yourself.

About the Author

Douglas Adams was the bestselling author of many works including The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, recently released as a major motion picture. He died in 2001.

John Lloyd is (he says) Britain’s most successful television comedy producer since Chaucer and is responsible for Not the Nine O’Clock News, Spitting Image, and Blackadder, among others.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FCK2QA
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown Archetype; Reprint edition (April 26, 2005)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 26, 2005
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 68873 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0517585979
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 770 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. John Lloyd

    John Lloyd

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    John Lloyd is the founder of QI and the producer of some of Britain’s best-loved TV shows. He is of the same opinion as Plato: unmitigated seriousness has no place in human affairs. On the other hand, he also likes A. N. Whitehead’s assertion that it’s more important for something to be interesting than true (although it’s more likely to be interesting if it is true).

    See more on the author's page
  2. Douglas Adams

    Douglas Adams

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Douglas Adams (1952-2001) was the much-loved author of the Hitchhiker's Guides, all of which have sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.

    Photo by michael hughes from berlin, germany (douglas adams Uploaded by Diaa_abdelmoneim) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
770 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Limey Di in NJ (or NY or ....)
5.0 out of 5 stars Deep and enduring laughter
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
A hugely funny and original idea, wittily expressed, that makes me cry with laughter. I particularly love the definitions that apply to the place of my birth, Sutton and Cheam. I don't think "genius" is too extreme for the quality of this work: the apex of British humour and Weltanschauung. Don't be scared by that earnest endorsement ... it is just that I sense that the concept and its realization appeal to a particular set of sensibilities, and my English friends and relations love it while some more solemn friends do not, alas, get it. I know that I will treasure this book and return to it often. It is very dippable-into - but on the other hand, I find once I look, I can't stop reading "just one more".
12 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
andrew clark
5.0 out of 5 stars hilarious!
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2014
Verified Purchase
quite simply the funniest and cleverest book ever written. adams has the unique ability to visualize definitions from the look and sound of an obscure word, and deliver them in the wittiest way possible; this is comedy at its best. all these words should be promoted to everyday use. we need more fun like this!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Dee Cope
4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing book for people who love words
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
Book arrived in good condition except for the first few pages which had come unstuck from the binding; however, the first dozen pages or so have started to come loose from the binding, which is a shame. This copy was published in 2013, and it hardly looks read at all. I don't know if the problem with the binding originates with the book itself, or if it has happened over time. Rwegarding the text of the book, it is very funny - not side splittingly funny, but smile provoking on nearly every page, especially if you are British and understand the lingo.I love listening to John Lloyd on the BBC radio 4 program "The Museum of Curiosity."
Helpful
 Report
bggdy9
5.0 out of 5 stars Good condition as good as they stated or better
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
Good
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
The Captain
5.0 out of 5 stars Great coffee table book
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2013
Verified Purchase
I have to qualify the 5 star rating. This is not a book you read cover to cover. Rather it is best enjoyed in small doses. Also if you are unfamiliar with Douglas Adams I would suggest starting with the Hitchhiker's Guide. However if you are a die hard fan and just can't get enough silliness then this is a good one to get.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Peter K Hasty
5.0 out of 5 stars By Douglas Adams. Do you even need to read the review?
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
I've had many copies of this book on and off, and when I lost it in a move i had to have it again. An excellent bathroom or coffee table book, good for quite a few laughs, unless you're the kind of person who doesn't like to laugh. Then it may be an exercise in masochism.
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Shawn Stewart
3.0 out of 5 stars Amusing, but not for a straight-through read.
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2015
Verified Purchase
The definitions in the book were funny. Definitely there should be words for some of these things. Using place names for them made for some amusement relating them to places I have been. Overall though, just the humor of Douglas Adams saved this from being boring or annoying (as in my wife's opinion when I showed her some definitions).
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Riki Kiki Taco
5.0 out of 5 stars Super awesome book that I have loved for years
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
Super awesome book that I have loved for years. Silly words with sillier meanings... I mean seriously necessary words that don't exist with seriously essential meanings. I got this one as a Christmas present and the person was super excited to receive it.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Linsfella
5.0 out of 5 stars This book changed my Liff.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2024
Verified Purchase
I bought this book over 30 yrs ago...it was hilarious and informative. I have bought over 20 copies of it over the years and given them to friends , workmates and even a taxi driver. Its such a brilliant and funny book that I felt compelled to share Its knowledge and observations with like minded people who I think I'd enjoy an evening of getting wasted with and discussing " Liff, the universe and everything " . 😊
Report
Nikolaus Odermatt
5.0 out of 5 stars Great product
Reviewed in Canada on January 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
Exactly as described/expected
Report
nasenpflaster
5.0 out of 5 stars Douglas Adams Fanboy - this one is different, but still great
Reviewed in Germany on January 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
The Deeper Meaning of Liff is a collection of words for things that do not yet have a name but should have.
Crazy, but plausible idea.
Sometimes the humour/sarcasm is hard to get for non-English speakers, but still I had a great time going through the book which is more of a dictionary than a novel
Report
David James
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy man!
Reviewed in Spain on March 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
I have fond memories of this book from when I was younger. So happy to relive those days through Douglas Adams and John Lloyds fantastic dictionary.
Report
Graeme
5.0 out of 5 stars A dictionary?
Reviewed in Australia on February 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
Written as a dictionary not actually a story but the meaning to many non-existent words making total sense.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report