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,…
poker is the perfect example of not showing your hand (photo by Raymond Tan)
Chinese Wall is moral dilemma: How idioms originate
As I contemplate my next travel destination, my enthusiasm starts with a trip to Russia, then Egypt and Morocco and finally India, again. Then it occurs to me, having just…
Shocking stats make youth vulnerable to targeted advertising
Following the much-publicised alleged breach of Facebook user privacy, and recent reports of social media absorption by the youth it is no surprise that parents worry about the time their…
Green Eggs and Ham: A great contribution to literature
Today I celebrate Dr.Seuss for all the entertainment he provided in my childhood. I loved his books and would sleep with them under my pillow so that the stories would…
No leg to stand on: How idioms originate
Having suffered a leg injury in December I could not walk and could not drive. I was practically immobile. In my static state I had plenty of time to think.…
Zeitgeist: how words originate
Zeitgeist is a lovely word to get your teeth into, literally and figuratively. And both syllables require a firm grit. Derived from the German language, the word is surrounded by…
Rats in the language
Rats! If you’ve ever had the problem of rats in your home, you may identify with strongly negative feelings about the small annoying creatures. Thanks to my compulsive TV watching…