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SA President is set to dodge the dangling Sword of Damocles in his Trump duel
Some South Africans may think that our President Cyril Ramaphosa has the Sword of Damocles swaying threateningly over his head as he touches down on US soil. He has a massive task to balance a relationship hanging by all intents and purpose on tenterhooks. We are holding our collective breath to see what he walks…
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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 believe I have the job, or the project or the assignment – call it what you will – at least for the term of a…
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Thunderstorms keeping it lush and green: word usage
I love the Johannesburg afternoon thunder showers. Yesterday I was caught in one crossing from an open parking lot into a shopping centre. I sprinted as much as I could in slopping along wet paving, to get to some kind of cover. Being literally soaked wasn’t such fun. But this morning with the gleam of…
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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 what can I say – I fell in love. So inglenook it is. Nook hints at the meaning but let’s explore further: If you have…
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Ferment and foment confuse the best of us: word usage
Foment means “to incite or rouse.” The words have some overlap in use, as they can both be used to express agitation and situations that can cause change or unrest.’
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”Shrinkflation: Pay More, Get Less” Now showing at a supermarket near you.
Remember when Cadbury’s 200g was that big slab you could enjoy with big pieces of chocolatey goodness. You really felt you were getting double the value of the 100g bar. Today, neither are the size they used to be and while we get less chocolate we pay more money for the ‘same’ item. Cadbury’s is…
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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 ‘cake’ found its allegiance with a ‘walk’. After some extensive research, I now know why. The phrase “piece of cake” is an idiom that means…
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From Superheroes to Greek Gods: Unpacking the Meaning of Weakness
Is your love of chocolate your Achilles’ heel or is it just Kryptonite? If you want to know the difference and talk about it correctly, read on. Kryptonite: A Modern Mythological Weakness Kryptonite. The very word conjures images of a weakened Superman, collapsing under the eerie green glow of a fragment from his destroyed…
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Words follow fashion and lifestyle trends: 690 new ones
Have you ever felt like making up your own words? Don’t be shy, the English language is always growing and changing. You may just find your creation in the dictionary if its usage becomes popular. Think athleisure, contactless, deepfake – these are all words you use in your daily conversations. Have another look at them…
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Joe Soap comes clean on why his name is popular in idioms
The English language is full of idioms across many genres and categories. There are several names used in literature such as Jane Doe, Sam Hill and Typhoid Mary all lending their ‘characterisation’ to idiomatic expressions. Today though, it’s all about Joe. The name “Joe” is about as common as they come. It’s a friendly, unassuming…
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