Do you know what your favourite personalities or places are otherwise known as? Who is The Muscles from Brussels? When and why did Bill Clinton become known as The Comeback Kid? Where and what is Tin Pan Alley? And where do all those nicknames like 'blondie' and 'titch' come from? All thesequestions and many more will be answered in this delightfully browsable volume.Nicknames are a rich and revealing treasure trove of information about the people, places, and institutions they refer to. They can be affectionate, critical, respectful, or downright derogatory.Covering nicknames both past and present; each entry explains the story behind the nickname, making this an intriguing read. The volume explores the histories behind generally used nicknames such as 'Carrot-top' and 'Lofty'. Finally, readers will be able to look up nicknames in a more thematic way,browsing lists of names given to jazz musicians, boxers, and cowboys for instance which add another dimension to the book.