-
Keep the ball rolling with these idioms
This week I received a rather disturbing SMS from my bank. In fact, this was the second time the bank was sending this alarming message. The first time, I checked my various banking accounts and could find nothing irregular. I assumed the bank was sending this message to the wrong customer. However, when I received…
-
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 ongoing supply of energy drinks. When I arrived, all I saw were a lot of empty bikes, women and men in tights waiting to mount,…
-
Idioms in the workplace
With the latest unemployment figures in South Africa at 29%, here’s a quick run down of some of the work-related idioms and how to use them. Learn the Ropes Meaning: Become more familiar with a job or field; be trained Example: John takes about three months to learn the ropes and then finds that he…
-
Flying too close to the sun: how idioms originate
This week while sipping on a warm Coke Zero at lunch with a friend, we began to discuss the wonders of Greece. She reminded me of the fable of Icarus. Icarus had wings fashioned out of feathers and wax to assist his escape from the prison where he and his father were captive. The part-bull,…
-
Robo dog delivers in driverless car: AI is in our world
By all accounts the gig economy takes off, but fears of AI replace the good ol’ human remain. And here’s a dog to help things along. “This robot delivery dog will hitch a ride in a driverless car to deliver your packages.” Two things struck me: The reality of AI and the number of jobs…
-
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 ‘doggerel’ originates from a time when people thought dogs were less than honorary human beings. Can you just image living in such a heartless age?…
-
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 final minutes, a friend called and took away my attention. She was complaining about her friend who talks the hind legs off a donkey. While…
-
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, so I asked her to do something for me which would require her to commit to making an effort in a very specific way. I…
-
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 few formal words, five or so, there were a large number of slang words – probably more than 80. As I a scrolled through the…
-
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 I heard this news, I was delighted for my friend, but also sceptical. So, I kept my distance and held off on the back-slapping and…
Professional Writing Services
