SA not in a good moody – despite new year joy
As South Africans settle into the swing of 2020 economic uncertainty still dogs day to day discussions. So despite the freshness of a new year, you might be feeling a…
Best thing since sliced bread: how idioms are formed
Last week, I decided I was tired of egg and toast for breakfast, so I ate muesli for five days. This week I ran out of bread and it would…
Picture by Stijn te Strake - Unsplash
Waiting for the cows to come home: Origin of idioms
It seems that I have to wait for the cows to come home to get paid by some of my clients. In one instance, I have been waiting for more…
Picture by David Hellman - Unsplash
How to tackle intelligence: word meanings
At university our syndicate was referred to as 'The Brains Trust' and in other groups I was touted as 'Brainiac'. Thus, I thought I had intelligence – quite a bit of…
Picture by Sam Lee -Unsplash
Why are squibs damp? How idioms are formed
Last week, I set out to take part in a cyclethon which had all the promise of a thunderous event complete with disco lights, the hippest of DJs and an…
A dog's life
Doggerel: How words originate
With no less than eight beautiful loving dogs at home, and witnessing the birth of three perfect puppies, I am rather distressed to learn that the origin of the word…
Talking the hind legs off a donkey: How idioms originate
Last night while watching an excellent wildlife programme, I saw an antelope give birth, apparently a two-hour stint, to get the eager youngster out. While I was engrossed in the…
Last roll of the dice: how idioms are used
It’s all fair in love and war and friendship too. I felt I was losing ground with a friend and that we would soon be going our own separate ways,…
Photo by Hector Bermudez - Unsplash
Money in my salad: slang in language
This week while working on a copy assignment for a bank, I looked up other words that mean money. I was surprised by what Google returned. In addition to a…
Of Smoke and Mirrors and other idioms
A good friend told me this week – her ship had come in. This means a change in luck, a sudden shower of good fortune or a great success. When…
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