It takes balls to beard the lion: idiom usage
In modern usage, the phrase often appears in political commentary, journalism, and everyday conversation. A whistleblower who exposes corruption within a powerful organisation
Cat in the bag rewrites idiom: usage and origin
What keeps the idiom current is its imagery. Unlike more clinical alternatives – “disclose,” “reveal,” “divulge” – this one has texture. It moves. It scratches. It refuses containment. And perhaps that’s why it endures: because secrets, like cats, are never entirely obedient.
Schmoozing for Business: Yiddish influence
Schmooze has found its way into the English language along with other Yiddish phrases that add richness to expressions. Yiddish phrases are colourful and descript, hard to match in other languages.
‘Répondez s’il vous plaît’: French influence on English
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.’
A Red Letter Day is cause for celebration: idiom
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.
New words in the dictionary
How a productivity slump led to a boost in vocabulary
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.
Cutting your coat may lead to cold knees and fewer cups of coffee: Idioms
Let’s face it: no one wants to be told to scale down. Whether it’s ambitions, appetites, or accessories, we tend to dream in technicolour. But the age-old idiom “cut your…
Stoking the fire with a book in hand; does life get any better?
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…
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.’
