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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 debris and been collected and responsibly discarded. However, this was not the case as the trail of rubbish still surrounded the park. As I got…
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Kicking the can down the road: idiom usage and origin
When I take my evening walk after about six blocks I reach the park and I walk around it. I can’t help noticing that the streets are strewn with litter. From KFC boxes to disposable face masks, singular socks, uneaten slap chips and a few empty Coke tins, there is just a big mess. As…
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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 interchanged to disastrous effect. The one has to do with truth, the other appetite. Or you could say, veracity concerns one’s appetite for truth, while…
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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 uncomfortable woolly feeling that only a good cup of tea can resolve. Now, just imagine that the cat’s got your tongue. It’s climbed into your…
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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 have been reviewing my entry for a short story competition I need to brush up on some creative temptations that hamper style rather than improve…
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Tintinnabulation: Words – old and new
Finally, I’ve found a word to rhyme with it . Constipation. Not just the physical kind. The emotional, psychological and social constipation that lockdown has forced upon us. But back to the word. Try to say tintinnabulation when you are sober – that is prior to a binge as lockdown opens up to sales of…
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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 ways to go about it. Worry and fear Just like that we woke up in a different world! The coronavirus epidemic has completely changed our…
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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 enough for three weeks. The other thing is that I did not expect my speed of crocheting to accelerate in the way that it did.…
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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 expressions and even people’s names. We all contributed our favourite Shakespearian quotes and Richard III came up as one of the most-read plays. Distortion Among…
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Five tips to retain customers
Retaining customers is always important, never more so than during lockdown when we all face a big don’t know in future months. The only thing you can do is work on a retention plan to hold your customers’ attention, interest and account. The main focus for any business, is often to win over new customers;…
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