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…
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…
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.
Oh, for the life of Rilely: origin of idioms
I guess it’s no co-incidence that my blog today is about living the life of Riley. As I have been feeling restless and vigorously browsing travel sites (Coronavirus notwithstanding –…
Best is best! Language quirks
I am constantly amazed at the number of authors who label their books ‘No 1. Bestseller’. Last weekend, I shared a platform with a new writer who did just that.…
Grumpy?
Valentine’s chip on shoulder: how idioms originate
As it’s Valentine’s Day, I was remembering one of the less romantic dates of my early dating life. I think it was the second date and Charles had asked to…
Novak Djokovic enjoys the limelight
Limelight or spotlight? Use the right phrase.
The English language is full of tricks and words of similar meaning that are confusing to second language speakers. One of these is limelight and spotlight. While some believe that…
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