This book is the ultimate study of the battlefield of wordplay one-upmanship, unleashing the power of cutting retorts and getting the last word in any verbal joust. It analyses the putdown art, its history, psychology, and impact. The book provides a vast wealth of examples from past wizards of the trade in addition to oven-ready specimens waiting to be perused and used. The book covers every aspect of life and suggests strategies to handle and protect yourself from poisonous jibes and wisecracks.​