Letting the cat out of the bag: idiom origin
Yesterday on my walk as I approached the park I saw a massive canvas bag, filled to the brim with litter. I hoped that it was a sign that the…
Veracity and voracity: use these words correctly
In the spell of untruths around COVID-19, today, we are going to have some fun exploring the difference between veracity and voracity. These words if not heard correctly can be…
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.…
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