Most people who use RSVP today don’t speak French, many not realising it’s French at all allowing it to blend into the language. The letters have effectively become a universal shorthand for, ‘Let us know if you’re coming.’
Writers are still told to do it “for the love of it,” as if affection for the craft can pay the electricity bill or justify the hours spent on rewrite after rewrite. Passion is powerful, but it has limits. When the industry begins to rely on passion as a substitute for fair compensation, the phrase “labour of love” stops sounding
Today, we use the idiom for any moment of irreversible action. You resign from a stable job to start your own business. You press “send” on an email that might change everything. You sign the contract, make the announcement, book the one-way ticket, say "I do". The die is cast.
Idiomatic use is everywhere, even in the lyrics of famous rock groups, especially Queen and the like. Many of the lyrics cite idioms, also noted is another one bites the dust. Blog discusses idiom usage.
An illustration of the correct usage of the idiom Champing at the bit. It provides history and commentary.
Gen Z and Alpha have added new words to the language. These words are now in the regular English dictionary. This means the words are here to stay and now common in daily conversations.
A discussion on International Mole Day and how words are used to explain everything.
Looking at the pic, you see yourself (okay, I speak for myself – baby boomers) deliriously swamped by magazines and print media and happy as a pig in sh-t. This…
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…
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.
