Is there a book of common phrases?

[HappyFace]

Is there a book on sale that lists common phrases and their origins. i.e the buck stops here, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey etc....?

[Quizmonster]

There are lots of such books. Try Port Out Starboard Home by Michael Quinion, Thereby Hangs a Tale by Charles E Funk or Red Herrings and White Elephants by Albert Jack..

[Goofy]

also Brewers dictionary of phrase and fable

[dr john]

Brewer's is the standard work, available online via Bartleby.com (which has lots of other good reference resources). In book form there is also a Brewer's Modern Phrase & Fable with more up-to date stuff.

[NILYA]

There is an Oxford Paperback Reference - Dictionary of Idioms - ISBN 0-19-280111-2. This includes the two items you have asked about.

[jofish]

There's also a charming little book called "It's all Greek to me" which carts the origin of all greek related phrases such as "eating your heart out" etc. Well worth a look!