The Catcher in the Rye
by J. D. Salinger

The Catcher in the Rye: Dialect 1 key example

Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis—Phony Slob:

Throughout The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield uses a lot of 1950s idiomatic expressions and slang. This does more than give the novel a sense of color, as these slang words are also windows into his personality and his outlook on relationships. For example, when describing why he likes Selma Thurmer, Holden says:

What I liked about her, she didn’t give you a lot of horse manure about what a great guy her father was. She probably knew what a phony slob he was.