Tag Archives: word play

The Allure of ByGone Days…(or Not)

Posted on November 29, 2019 by

(In cleaning out some of my school files, I came across these common phrases and their sources. Enjoy!!!) Here are some bygone tales about the 1500s: People married in June. Most had taken their yearly bath in May, so the bride … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Saxons, British history, Great Britain, real life tales, tall tales | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Doublespeak: Favorite Euphemisms or How I Learned Something of “Poppycock”

Posted on January 19, 2018 by

Euphemisms? We learn them in the most peculiar ways. I recall as a child that my mother was very upset with me when I used the word “poppycock.” You see, I thought myself quite sophisticated to learn a new word … Continue reading →

Posted in euphemisms, word origins, word play, writing | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

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 →

Posted in etymology, word choices, word origins, word play | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in vocabulary, word choices, word origins, word play | Tagged , , ,

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 →

Posted in word choices, word origins, word play | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

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 →

Posted in American History, British history, history | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

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 →

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