This is something my phone has been telling me recently, which, frankly, I’m quite sceptical about. Am I really in danger? Continue reading
You’re Dangerously Low on Space
etymology
That Just Doesn’t Cut the Mustard
George Hamilton, main football commentator on Irish broadcaster RTÉ, is very fond of a groan-inducing pun. This evening, while referring to a Tunisian player who plays in Dijon in France, he said, That pass doesn’t cut the mustard!
Dijon, mustard… you get it.
Anyway, this made me wonder why, when something isn’t up to the standard we desire, we say it doesn’t cut the mustard? Continue reading
Plucky Mexico
More football. Don’t worry, I’m not going to write something about football every day for the next month. I’m really not that interested in it. But I was struck today by the use of an adjective that’s often used in sport: Continue reading
Hat-Trick
It’s football time again! I can’t believe it’s only been two years since I last thought about the English language and football.
Are you excited about the World Cup? Continue reading
Why do so Many Negative Words Begin with N?
No, not, nothing, neither, nor, none, nil, no-one, nobody, nowhere.
Notice a pattern?
Why do so many negative words begin with N? Continue reading
Lie or Lie?
Lying is bad. Except when you’re tired, and need to go to bed, in which case, it’s good. Continue reading
Hey you, Whitehouse!
I was listening to my newest musical purchase, Pink Floyd’s Animals, today (I’m hip to the music of 1977). Continue reading
English-Language Thoughts 