Today is graduation day for our trainees. It is the only time that you will see me wearing a suit. Did you know the word ‘suit’ is over 600 years old? It has a few different meanings. You probably know that it refers to matching clothes (late 1300s) and you might also know its lawful … Read More
The phrase, ‘I can’t stomach it’ means that you can’t tolerate it any longer. It is something that you find disgusting. Usually, this phrase is used to talk about something that makes you feel ill. I can’t stomach it sounds like it will make you vomit. Example 1: I can’t stomach the sight of blood. … Read More
I usually try to make my phrase of the day relatable. I use things that I hear in my regular life, in videos, or in conversation that I want to learn more about. On the same day that I wrote down, “roll with the punches”, my friend used it in a blog post (dccopypro.com). I … Read More
ACHOOO! Someone just sneezed. What do you say to them? You might say, ‘excuse you’ or ‘gesundheit’ (German for health). But you are mostly likely to say, ‘bless you’ if you are from an English-speaking country. You may also hear the full phrase, ‘God bless you.’ So, today we will explore this phrase and try … Read More
Friday the Thirteenth Happy Friday the Thirteenth! Do you consider today to be unlucky or maybe evil? The origin of Friday the 13th being unlucky is unclear. There are religious interpretations, political interpretations, and interpretations based on crimes or punishments. However, Friday the 13th doesn’t appear unlucky until the early 1900s. Did you know: The … Read More
Today, my friend sent me a picture of a beautiful bird that he found on his farm. It was a Eurasian hoopoe. Then, when I got home, there was a sparrow trapped in the stairwell. I had to open a window to let it out. So, of course I had to write about a bird … Read More
If you describe something as spot on, you are saying that it is an extremely accurate description or representation of something else. Your analysis can be spot on. Your impersonation could be spot on. That tiger growl was spot on. Example: I really loved your presentation. It was a spot on analysis of the Napoleonic … Read More
I recently reached a milestone on the Duolingo app. I completed 1,000 days of studying consecutively. I must admit that I have been cheating a little bit lately. When I am tired from work, I go back and do the introductory lessons just to keep my streak alive. Is it cheating? A milestone is an … Read More
A spring chicken is simply a chicken born in the spring. So, “not a spring chicken” is a chicken NOT born in the spring. In particular, this phrase is referring to chickens born in the winter. Farmers in the early 18th century found that people were more willing to buy the younger spring chickens. If … Read More
The phrase beyond the pale should only be used in extreme situations. It means that something is beyond what is normal and decent. You are telling the other person that their behavior is unacceptable. Example: You can’t say that fascism is good. That is beyond the pale. Debate me, Bro! Recently, I learned about a … Read More
