Tag Archives: word play

Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on May 25, 2017 by

Go Through Fire and Water ~ English for Students tells us, “Go through fire and water means to face any peril. This phrase originally referred to the medieval practice of trial by ordeal which could take the form of making an accused … Continue reading →

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Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on February 17, 2017 by

Inexpressibles ~ Etymology Compare to unmentionables ‎(“underwear”). Geri Walton at her Unique Histories from the 18th and 19th Centuries tells us “That part of the dress which it is now unlawful to name, seems of old to have had the … Continue reading →

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The Lovely World of the English Language ~ Do You Know These Idioms?

Posted on January 31, 2017 by

Are you like me? Do you wonder from where a particular phrase originates? I am often in a position to search out a phrase or a word to determine whether it is too modern for my writings set in the … Continue reading →

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Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on January 3, 2017 by

 Do you know “bromide”? A bromide is a phrase or platitude or cliché whose excessive use suggests insincerity or a lack of originality in the speaker. The term “bromide” derives from the antiquated use of bromide salts in medicine as mild tranquilizers and … Continue reading →

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Are You Familiar with These Words and Phrases?

Posted on October 26, 2016 by

Bell the Cat ~ To hang a bell around a cat’s neck to provide a warning. Figuratively, the expression refers to any task that is difficult or impossible to achieve. This explanation comes from Phrase Finder. This expression ultimately derives from the … Continue reading →

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Are You Familiar with These Words and Phrases?

Posted on August 9, 2016 by

The words and phrases below are ones I can across in a “more traditional” Regency romance I was reading leisurely, and thought I would share some of the less common ones. Enjoy! Here and Thereian is one who has no … Continue reading →

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Are You Familiar with These Phrases and Words?

Posted on July 14, 2016 by

Today we will look at phrases/words we have inherited from England. Go to the Dickens! (or) What the Dickens! Believe it or not, neither phrase has anything to do with the Victorian novelist, Charles Dickens. Actually, “dickens” comes to us … Continue reading →

Posted in word choices, word origins, word play | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments