A damp squib
Nothing but a Damp Squib: idiom usage
In the past week, I have attended two events that were ‘damper’ than a damp squib. Really! I could not be less impressed with my experience of these. The first…
Platitudes and punchlines: the writer’s tightrope
Both clichés and idioms reflect the human desire for expression that is concise yet evocative. They help us communicate complex ideas quickly and paint mental images without lengthy explanations. They also connect us to generations past, carrying the wisdom, humour, and creativity of countless speakers before us.
Pic by Gul Isik
How breaking bread is a social act that’s lasted through time
The other day I bumped into someone I knew at high school. I remembered her comment that a certain crowd of our peers did not want to break bread with…
Cutting your coat may lead to cold knees and fewer cups of coffee: Idioms
Let’s face it: no one wants to be told to scale down. Whether it’s ambitions, appetites, or accessories, we tend to dream in technicolour. But the age-old idiom “cut your…
How cold weather makes all tasks Herculean
Just getting out of bed in below freezing temperatures feels like a Herculean task – so much easier and more pleasant to snuggle under the duvet, turn up the electric…
‘Sailing close to the wind’ may leave me out of pocket: idiom usage
A little hard-up for productive work, this week, I found myself sailing close to the wind. While I promote the idea of taking a risk, it's different when said risk…
Ball Python - Clown Morph Tongue Flick
How speaking with a forked tongue led prospective content manager astray: Origin of idiom
I am disappointed to learn that I am so naïve and take people at face value. If someone in an interview situation says ‘let’s try you for a month’ I…
Stoking the fire with a book in hand; does life get any better?
A word that warms the cockles of your hearth
Let’s go back in time. Just two days really. Because I did not like today’s word of the day. Browsing back to Tuesday I found the word ‘inglenook’ – and…
Now you can have your cake and eat it too: Idioms are a piece of cake
In recent months I ‘ve heard many sitcoms and dramedies use the phrase cakewalk. As someone who is familiar with the term ‘piece of cake’ I wondered how the word…
