English can be one strange language. Then again, that’s not that surprising, considering its history as a mishmash between Anglo-Saxon, French, Germanic languages, and who knows what else. Having been influenced by everything and the kitchen sink, it’s no wonder many English words have changed significantly over the years. In a lot of cases, the …
Do you say ghoul or spirit for Halloween? Or do you use words like skookum or go-devil? Hide-Behind A hide-behind can be also said as a high-behind or a nigh-behind, meaning a ghost or imaginary creatures that always hides behind some object. The 1939 book Critter by Henry Tryon describes a hide-behind as a 6-foot-tall …
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What words do you use around Halloween for the word ghost? Here are some new ones, just in time for the season. Bugaboo This South and South Midland expression refers to a ghost but could also mean an imaginary monster or the devil. The word has been used since at least 1710 and could come …
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Which British word do you use the most? Some of their true meanings might really surprise you. Fit The word fit is used to describe someone physically attractive and means to describe their physique. Give Me a Tinkle on the Blower To give someone a tinkle on the blower means you are going to call …
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Have you ever used the word “miffed?” There are so many fun sayings to learn and use in your verbiage. Full Monty To say full monty means to say everything that is necessary, appropriate and possible. The phrase is used like “they got a full monty” and then finishing with what what said. Gaff The …
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Have you read American Sayings And Where They Come From? Because this is basically part two about all the American phrases. The Tail Wagging The Dog A smaller version of this is “wag the dog” meaning to divert attention to less important issues to get away with bigger issues. A “tail wagging the dog” situation …
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Are these American sayings typical in your vocabulary? Fun ones to use would be “go bananas” or “pie in the sky.” Thick As Thieves Thieves are known for sharing secrets and in older times, thick also meant “close.” Go Bananas To go bananas means to show big emotions like super happy or over-the-top excitement and …
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Have you ever used these funky British sayings, phrases like “pop your clogs” or “bee’s knees?” Here are more things to say if you want to expand your verbiage. Cack-handed If you did something “cack-handed,” it means you did it in an uncomfortable, clumsy or awkward way. The word ‘cack’ is old-fashioned slang for feces …
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It’ll be very awkward if you call somebody’s baby by the wrong name. Animals, fortunately, won’t mind. In fact, it’s perfectly acceptable to call a critter’s offspring simple a “baby something.” Still, though, if we call our pets’ spawn puppies and kittens, maybe we should extend the same courtesy to all animals. To help you …
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When you see a lot of animals in one spot, it’s easiest to say you just saw a “bunch of cows” or something. If you want to be more specific, you might say you spotted a “flock of seagulls.” But when you really get down into the nitty gritty, many groups of animals have specific …