Cat got your tongue?
Cat got your tongue? Origin of idioms
Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, my mouth feels like a snake has slept in it and left its blanket behind. My mouth gets that…
Sub-editor multi-tasking
Say it simply with said. Correct attribution in writing
In my work as a sub-editor, the only word allowed for an attribution is 'said'. No, 'revealed', no 'pointed out', no 'suggested', no 'argued' - just plain 'said'. As I…
Pic by Aakash Sethi
Tintinnabulation: Words – old and new
Finally, I’ve found a word to rhyme with it . Constipation. Not just the physical kind. The emotional, psychological and social constipation that lockdown has forced upon us. But back…
Closed for Covid
17 Strategic Business Pivots to Make in the Time of COVID-19
Last week, we spoke about the word 'pivot' and how it has become significant in the language. It's not just a word, it's an action point and here are 17…
Pivot on your toes
Pic by David Hoffman -unsplash
How sticking to your knitting will get you stuck: idiom usage
There was not enough wool to buy for all the crochet hours I would need to fill during the slumpy ‘non-work’ hours of lockdown. For one thing, I only bought…
pic by Thomas Morse
How years and ears distort the English language: origin of idioms
Shakespeare was the theme of our Toastmasters meeting last week. We learnt about how much The Bard contributed to the English language – from general words and phrases to idiomatic…
Group activities
Five tips to retain customers
Retaining customers is always important, never more so than during lockdown when we all face a big don’t know in future months. The only thing you can do is work…
Photo by Malibi-75 Pexels
I fell on my sword: idiom usage
Earlier today, I interviewed for a job teaching English in Spain. Wow. Sounds ama…zing right? But I messed up royally. I fell on my sword. Everything that could go wrong…
On the horns of a dilemma
On the horns of a dilemma: origin of idioms
Idioms add to the language. And idiom is a cultural expression that gives descriptions to situations.
How thinking ‘outside of the bottle’ can save us from coronavirus
The world has gone mad with the outbreak of Coronavirus. And we have had some interesting reactions. One of the church ministers said in response to gatherings of no more…
