Ten Essential English Sayings

Earlier this week I was working on my computer when, for some unknown reason, I began thinking of all the sayings we have in the English language. You know me, mind like a butterfly, fluttering from one thing to the next! So I decided that I would like to share my top ten English sayings with you. As you can imagine English (like most languages) has many, many sayings, and these are only a tiny sample, but they are my favourites and I hope you will enjoy.       

1.    Not my cup of tea – This phrase can be used to describe a person or an object that you are not particularly drawn to or like very much. You may say something like “I met our new neighbour yesterday, I don’t know, but not really my cup of tea”. Alternatively it could be used to describe a song, some artwork, a building, an actor or actress, anything really that does not appeal to you.

2.    Clear as mud – For some reason this expression always makes me smile. It means that something is absolutely not clear at all! For example if you have attended a lecture and afterwards you still have no idea on the subject you may say that now it is as clear as mud!

3.     Dull as ditchwater – is a very old saying, dating back to the 1700’s. It is used to describe a person or object that is extremely boring. You could use it to describe a film that you have found tedious to watch, an acquaintance or an item of clothing. This saying is still used frequently, although a more modern take on it is “as dull as dishwater”, which it is believed came into use in the 1900’s.

4.    All singing, all dancing – If you have a piece of machinery, like a car or computer, which is all singing, all dancing, then you have the top of the range model with many impressive features. You may be surprised to learn that the origin of this saying is from the posters used to publicise the 1929 film “Broadway Melody”. This film, the first musical, was described as “all talking, all singing, all dancing”.      

5.    Chickens come home to roost – When chickens come home to roost it is payback time for the bad deeds someone has done in the past. This saying has been around in some form for about 700 years and suggests a similar idea to karma, that bad actions will come back to cause trouble for, or haunt a person.

6.    Economical with the truth – if someone is being economical with the truth, they are not usually actually telling lies, but more likely withholding some information to tell a story that supports their version of events. It is often used to describe politicians when talking about the economy (or anything else for that matter!).  

7.    Heard it through the grapevine – If you have heard something through the grapevine then you have heard it in an informal way, often gossip or rumour. The idea is that as a grapevine grows and spreads out quickly, in the same way gossip is passed from person to person. It should be pointed out that the “grapevine” is not always 100% correct and stories tend to be embellished as they are past from person to person.

8.    Jump on the bandwagon – to jump on the bandwagon is to support a movement or follow a fashion that has recently become popular. However, when using this expression there is often the underlying notion thought that a person has done this because in some way it will be advantageous for them.

9.    Chip off the old block – this describes a person who is very similar in character, looks or ways to one of their parents, usually but not exclusively their father. You could say something like “Look at George organising everyone, he’s just like his Dad, a real chip off the block”.  

10.    A red rag to a bull – if the mention of something is enough to enrage a person it is often said that it is like a red rag to a bull. For example you could say “Don’t mention the cuts in education to John; it’s like a red rag to a bull”. The person knows that even the mention of this will make John upset and angry. In recent times this saying has sometimes been abbreviated to like a red rag......everyone knows what this means.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my top ten favourite sayings. Please let me know some of yours, or if you have heard a saying and you are not sure of the meaning I will do my best to explain.  

Don’t forget, if you need help with correct written English, visit our website www.writtenenglishcorrected.com, and remember to follow us on facebook and Twitter.

New Year Resolutions

So here we are on the 2^nd January 2014, and I wonder how many of us have given up on our New Year’s resolutions already? I have to say I am still going strong and hope that I can at last beat the smoking habit, but I know it will be a bumpy road!

The tradition of making promises of self improvement has a long history. It is believed that the ancient Babylonians began the New Year by making promises to their gods that they would repay debts and return any borrowed items. Today they resolutions often focus on a person’s self improvement. It may be that an individual decides to lose weight, cut down on their consumption of alcohol or, like me, try and give up smoking. Alternatively, it may be that he or she resolves to do something positive to improve physical or mental health, such as join a yoga class or sports team, or learn a foreign language.  Others may decide to look at their finances and resolve to get a better paid job, start saving for a family holiday or pay off debts and start living within their budget. Others still may resolve to make regular donations to a charity they support or volunteer to help out in some way that will make a difference.

There will be a lot of us, millions (if not billions) across the world, who will have made a New Year’s resolution. Unfortunately, many people will fail. I have seen some statistics that suggest only between 8% - 12% of people actually achieve what they set out to do. Personally I think many of these who fail probably set their goals a little too high to begin with, you know “I want to be a size 8, have a fabulous, high paid job and travel the world,” may be just a bit too much to aim for in one year! If you really want to keep to your resolution best to set yourself small goals, for example if you want to lose weight look at losing 2-3lb a week, rather than stating I need to lose 4 stone by next year.  Set achievable targets that can be measured and slowly but surely you will start to see the effects you desire.

However, to me the failure rate of New Years resolutions is not really important, if we all achieved all our goals this year what would we do next year or the year after? No, what I think is important is that every year we feel optimistic about the start of a New Year. We plan and resolve to bring about changes to improve ourselves, our lives and the lives of others. That says to me that even in these days of unrest and discontentment that we are still hoping and planning for a better future -now that is something to celebrate!       

Please remember that if you need help with correct written English, you can visit our website www.writtenenglishcorrected.com, and follow us on facebook and Twitter.

OMG It's Friday the 13th

So it’s Friday the 13^th of December – oh no what bad things are going to happen today? I must admit that, like many others I am a little superstitious. I don’t think I am obsessive about such things but I will always choose to walk around rather than under a ladder; if I spill salt I will always throw a pinch over my right shoulder; if I break a mirror I’m worried about seven years bad luck, you know all the usual little superstitions that we have been brought up with. Therefore, I have to say that I am always most pleased when Friday the 13^th has come to an end and I have escaped unscathed!

According to the Mirror News, one third of Britons will change their normal plans and routines when the 13^th of a month falls on a Friday. Just over one third of adults (34%) say they would prefer to have a duvet day, and not even leave the house, whilst a whopping 72% of adults say they have experienced bad luck on this date. It is widely known that many, many people refuse to travel, will not make big purchases (like signing a business deal or completing on a house sale), get married or hold important meetings on Friday 13^th. It’s not just in Britain either, The Stress Management Centre and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, states Friday 13^th is the most feared date in the history of the USA. It is estimated that millions of dollars of business are lost each time the 13^th falls on a Friday!   There is even a name for the phobia of this date – paraskavedekatriaphobia, bet you didn’t know that!   

So why are we all so afraid that bad things are more likely to happen on this date than any other? There is not one particular answer to that question. Many people believe it is that historically the number thirteen and the day Friday have been seen as unlucky, and so, when you put them together you are in for double trouble! Christians will point to there having been thirteen people at the last supper, and it was the thirteenth person to sit down, Judas, who went on to betray Jesus. Jesus was then crucified and put to death on a Friday. Others suggest it goes even further back in the bible, to the Garden of Eden, when the forbidden fruit was eaten on a Friday. And let us not forget that Cain was supposed to have killed his brother Abel on a Friday.

Another factor may be that it is said in 1306 King Philip of France had the revered Knights Templar arrested and tortured on a Friday, giving more evidence that Friday was an evil day. And let’s not forget that most hangings in Britain were carried out on a Friday, and traditionally there were 13 steps up to the noose! As if this wasn’t enough there are also 13 witches in a coven – wow it is a wonder any of us survive this awful date!

It is true that the superstition surrounding the number 13 is so strong that many high rise buildings do not have a 13^th floor (they jump straight from 12^th floor to 14^th). Also some hotels don’t have a number 13 room as their owners believe customers would not want to stay in there. Just as an aside I once lived in a street of houses that did not have a number 6 – I never got to solve the mystery of that either!

There have been a number of small studies carried out that suggest that there are more accidents and admissions to hospital when the thirteenth of the month falls on a Friday. Could this be yet more proof that it is a bad date, or are we just so fearful of having an accident that we act in a different way? Personally, my logic tells me that Friday 13^th is no more unlucky than any other date, I think I am a reasonable person who can think things through to a logical conclusion and I know fearing one particular date is not sensible. However would I move house, get married, start a new business or book a flight on Friday 13th – to be honest probably not!        

Please remember that if you need help with correct written English, visit our website www.writtenenglishcorrected.com, and follow us on facebook and Twitter.

Great Yarns and Soft Poems

December has well and truly arrived, the days are shorter, the weather is colder and preparations for Christmas are all in hand. Funnily enough I love December! It's a month of good cheer, of parties and catching up with family and friends. Even more than that, the holidays with the cold, damp weather are a perfect time for catching up on your favourite authors and watching your best loved films.

So with this in mind, I thought today we could have a quick look at the famous Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894). Stevenson is most famous for his novels Treasure Island, Kidnapped and The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, however it must be noted he published much, much more than this and was an excellent novelist, poet and travel writer who ranks among the 26 most translated authors in the world. To give you a little potted history, Stevenson suffered long periods of ill health as a child which meant that he missed a lot of time away from school, and often had to be educated at home by a private tutor. Although late learning to read and write his love of storytelling became evident at a very early age, and his father paid for his first publication when he was only sixteen years old. He attended Edinburgh University, at first to study engineering, possibly with the idea of following his father into the design and building of lighthouses, but was quickly disillusioned and changed subjects to obtain a law degree. Stevenson never practiced at the bar though, as by the time he qualified he was certain that his career lay in writing. Stevenson married Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne, an American divorcee who was over ten years his senior in May 1880 and they remained married until his death in 1894 at the age of 44.

So why did December make me think of this great author? Well if you have any children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews who you love to sit in front of a roaring fire and read to, then I can recommend his work. Robert Louis Stevenson certainly knew how to write an adventure to captivate an audience. Without giving too much away Treasure Island, written in 1883 is a tale of pirates, buried treasure and desert islands. Kidnapped, written in 1886 tells the adventure of a young orphan, David, who is in pursuit of his rightful inheritance. Both tales have stood the test of time and remain firm family favourites. Both have been adapted for film and TV on numerous occasions.

Stevenson also wrote “A Child's Garden of Verses” in 1885. Although written for children, the poetry proved just as popular with the parents! I have taken a poem from this book to show you a sample of the brilliant writing by this amazing author. I hope you enjoy it as much as I always do!

Winter-Time by Robert Louis Stevenson

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,

A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;

Blinks but an hour or two; and then,

A blood-red orange, sets again.

 

Close by the jolly fire I sit

To warm my frozen bones a bit;

Or with a reindeer-sled, explore

The colder countries round the door.

 

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap

Me in my comforter and cap;

The cold wind burns my face, and blows

Its frosty pepper up my nose.

 

Black are my steps on silver sod;

Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;

And tree and house, and hill and lake,

Are frosted like a wedding cake.

 

Don’t forget, if you need help with proofreading for correct written English, visit our website www.writtenenglishcorrected.com, and follow us on facebook and Twitter.

Proverbial Wisdom

Proverbs are little sayings that give us advice on how to live our lives. One thing is certain, and that is us Brits, like many other cultures, love them!! There are proverbs to use in almost any circumstances. Most of us use these sayings frequently, without even thinking about their meanings. We were brought up with them; our parents used them, and their parents before that, and so on, for so many generations that they are now just part of everyday life. 

So, for example, if a friend buys something very extravagant we may find ourselves saying “a fool and his money are easily parted”, meaning that a foolish person will squander money without any thought of tomorrow.  If we are thinking of making a big change in our life, maybe we are fed up with our boss and decide to look for a new job, we may well be advised that it’s “better the devil you know, than the one you don’t know”. This suggests that it is better to deal with someone who, although may be difficult, is familiar, rather than risking a change and ending up dealing with someone far more troublesome. On the same lines we often hear “out of the frying pan into the fire”, again suggesting that if we leap into a decision without due care and consideration we may find that we have gone from one bad situation to another which is much worse! “Look before you leap” again favours caution, but what about “he who hesitates is lost”? This seems to be the green light to go for it – whatever “it” may be! 

So, what should we do if these proverbs offer conflicting advice? And yes, there are lots of them. We all know that it is no use worrying what the future holds because “what will be, will be”; but we have also heard “life is what you make of it”. We know that “two heads are better than one”, meaning when we discuss things and get input from others we are most likely to find a better solution, but then again we are also familiar with “if you want something done right, do it yourself”!  

Of course, we are taught from a young age that it is “better to be safe than to be sorry” but also “nothing ventured, nothing gained” – more conflicting advice! How about setting about changing things we don’t agree with. On one hand “actions speak louder than words”, but then again “the pen is mightier than the sword”. So, is direct action the way forward, or should we think petitions and speeches? One of my favourites proverbs is “birds of a feather stick together”, suggesting that we seek the company of people who think and act in a similar way to ourselves, but weigh this against “opposites attract” meaning that we are drawn towards people who are completely different from ourselves.

We could go on and on looking at proverbs and conflicting proverbs. We all know them, and, as a wise old owl I believe there is some truth in each and every one of them. Think of the saying “out of the mouths of babes” which suggests that children can make remarks and comments that are very true and wise beyond their years. This is certainly true; often children will say something that shows an amazing amount of insight. Then again I would not argue with “with age comes wisdom” as experience teaches us a lot. To me proverbs are fun and contain an element of truth, we all know them and use them often. However, we cannot rely on them for answers to every situation. We need to do what we think is best for ourselves and our families.....and if we look hard enough I’m sure we will find a proverb that agrees with our actions!                 

Remember, if you need help with correct written English, visit our website  www.writtenenglishcorrected.com, and don’t forget to follow us on facebook and Twitter.

Fun Facts About English

So it’s the weekend and time for a bit of fun and relaxation. I thought this would be the perfect time to look at some interesting facts about the English language. Do you need to know these things? Probably not; but they are great to throw in as quiz questions, or simply to amaze your friends with your knowledge!

Let's start with a nice simple one, what is the shortest complete sentence in English? Go on, think about it. Have you got any ideas? For those who are thinking “I am”, that's not a bad guess but there is something even shorter. Give up? Okay, I'll tell you “Go”! Well done to anyone who got the correct answer before I gave it away. Now can you think of words that rhyme with any of the following: month, orange, silver or purple? Take five minutes and think hard. Okay so have you thought of any? No? That's because there aren't any! Of the thousands and thousands of words in the English language these words have no rhyming partners.

 

 

I think you may enjoy the following little snippet of information. “Therein” is a simple little seven letter word, but it contains within it thirteen words that can be written using consecutive letters. Don't believe me – well here we go with a list of them:

1. the
2. he
3. her
4. er
5. here
6. I
7. there
8. ere
9. rein
10. re
11. in
12. therein
13. herein

Changing the subject completely, how do you like geography? Have you ever noticed that each of the seven continents all start and end with the same letter? Let's take a look; we have Africa, America (North), America (South), Antarctica, Asia, Australia and Europe. What a coincidence!  Looking at the alphabet, “almost” is the longest, most commonly used word with all the letters in alphabetical order. There is actually a longer word “aegilops” - which is a type of grass, more generally known as goat grass, but as most people would be unfamiliar with this term, I think it's fair to stick with almost.

 

Just a few more quirky facts for you. The word four is the only number which has the same number of letters as its value. Bookkeeper and bookkeeping are the only English words with three consecutive double letters, and “rhythms” is the longest word in English without a single vowel. Finally, and perhaps most surprisingly, the word “set” has more definitions than any other word.  Just check it out in the dictionary – I'm sure you will be amazed!           

Don’t forget, if you need help with correct written English, visit our website www.writtenenglishcorrected.com, and don’t forget to follow us on facebook and Twitter.

All That Cutlery - What To Do With It All

As November moves on, many people are turning their thoughts to Christmas. Across Europe and much of the rest of the world, Christmas is the biggest family celebration of the year. Even in countries that are not predominantly Christian, Christmas is fast becoming a time of celebration, of sharing gifts and of meeting family and friends. One of the great traditions of Christmas is the family dinner, either at home or in a restaurant. For the uninitiated, the array of cutlery, crockery and glassware laid out at this kind of meal can be quite intimidating. Even more frightening, if you are hosting such a meal, is the thought of laying out the place settings correctly. However, fear not! Here follows our guide to the etiquette of tableware!

As with most formal etiquette, there are a number of rules to be followed. Don't worry too much about these, as in fact they make the job of laying the table much easier to remember. Let's start with how to lay out and use the cutlery needed for a multi-course meal. The first rule is that the flatwear sits on the right of the plate, and the forks on the left. Flatwear is just a collective way of saying knives and spoons. This is a good starting point, but how do you know which knife, fork or spoon to use for each course? When I was a child I was told “start from the outside and work inwards”, and this rule is very true. The place setting should be laid out so that the cutlery on the outside is the first to be used. If the first course of your meal is soup, a soup spoon should be placed on the far right of the cutlery. The complete layout will depend on they number of courses that are being served, and what each course contains. As an example, if the meal is to be soup, followed by a fish course, followed by a meat course, then the cutlery should be set out thus: on the right hand side of the place will be a soup spoon on the outside, next in will be a fish knife, and finally, closest to the plate will be a meat knife. On the left hand side of the plate, the outside will be a fish fork, and the inside will be the main course fork.

The observant among you will have noticed that I have not mentioned cutlery for eating dessert, the most important part of any meal! This is because the dessert cutlery is placed above the place setting. Dessert cutlery is usually a dessert spoon and a dessert fork; the spoon is placed above the fork, and the handle of the spoon is to the right, whereas the handle of the fork is to the left. In case you are wondering about the difference between a dessert spoon and a soup spoon, a soup spoon is always rounded, whereas a dessert spoon is more oval in shape.

So that is where the cutlery goes. Simple isn't it! What else do you need for a perfect place setting? Usually, above the plate and to the left of the dessert cutlery there will be a side plate. This is to be used for bread if you are serving soup. It is also where the host will place a napkin before the meal (unless the host is very artistic and can arrange the napkin in a fancy shape, when it is permitted for this to be placed in the centre of the setting!). Finally there are the drinks' glasses to consider. Whether you are serving wine, water or juices, the glasses will be placed above the plate and to the right hand side of the dessert cutlery.

Now you are ready to face a formal meal, confident that you know where everything goes, and which knives, forks and spoons to use to eat whatever food is served. Enjoy your meal, bon appetite!

Don't forget, if you want help with correct written English, visit our website www.writtenenglishcorrected.com, and follow us on facebook and Twitter.