Sunday, 26 February 2012
An arm and a leg
In 1938 did people refer to things costing 'an arm and a leg'? Well, yes, according to Upstairs, Downstairs on BBC.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Yes no interlude
Answers to so many questions elicit 'Yes, no'. When did it begin and what does it mean?
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Dribbling and passing the square ball
Dribbling and passing the square ball always strike me as strange things to do. Why don't we just wipe our chins and inflate the ball to its naturally round shape?
If you're a sportsperson you'll appreciate what the language means but if not, well, you could be confused. Dribbling can mean running with the ball while bouncing or kicking it and a square ball actually means passing to someone who is is in line with you across the court or pitch.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Expecting a delivery
You can deliver a parcel, or even a baby but can you deliver, say, promises, or education as if they come in boxes?
Monday, 20 February 2012
Wanderlust
Are you wondering about the countryside? Or wandering in that interesting city? The words seem interchangeable now but can cause some confusing. Not even in context is it always absolutely clear.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Bringing or buying?
Are we losing the distinction between bought and brought? It would seem so and usually the context makes it clear what is intended but does another word 'bite the dust'?
Purposefully
Purposefully
Will this word shortly (or rather, at greater length)completely replace "purposely"? Is it another AmE. Import and an example of the "word inflation" that has given us "fulsome" for "full", "methodology" for "method", "transportation" for "transport" and so on?
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