Partridge, Eric (1894-1979), was a British expert in the study of the English language. Partridge wrote pioneering examinations of slang, cliches, and jargon in the English language that combined rigorous scholarship with a lighthearted writing style. His many books include Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (1937), Dictionary of Cliches (1940), Shakespeare's Bawdy (1947), Usage and Abusage: A Guide to Good English (1947), Dictionary of the Underworld (1950), and Origins (1950).