Rows and rose are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. Homophones exist because of our ever-changing English language. The way the spelling and definitions differ can be confusing. Pronunciation may change, even though the spelling doesn’t, producing two words that are pronounced in the same manner but have different meanings such as night and knight. English words are also spelled according to … [Read more...]
Blood brother
Blood brother is a phrase with a literal and figurative meaning, which means it is sometimes used as an idiom. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Common idioms are words and phrases used in the English language in order to convey a concise idea, and are often spoken or are considered informal or conversational. An idiom can illustrate emotion more quickly than a phrase that has a literal meaning, even … [Read more...]
Laps vs lapse
Laps and lapse are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. Homophones exist because of our ever-changing English language. Pronunciation may change, even though the spelling doesn't, producing two words that are pronounced in the same manner but have different meanings such as night and knight. English words are also spelled according to their etymologies rather than their sound. For instance, the word … [Read more...]
Silver-tongued
Silver-tongued is an interesting idiom that dates back to the 1500s. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Common idioms are words and phrases used in the English language in order to convey a concise idea, and are often spoken or are considered informal or conversational. An idiom can illustrate emotion more quickly than a phrase that has a literal meaning, even when the origin of the idiomatic … [Read more...]
Best-laid plans
The phrase the best-laid plans is a translation of a Scottish proverb that was first published in 1786. A proverb is a short, pithy, common saying or phrase that particularly gives advice or shares a universal truth. A proverb is an aphorism. Many English proverbs are wise sayings or truths that are taken as quotations from Hebrew biblical scripture, including the Book of Psalms and the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament, and the Gospel in the New Testament. Other proverbs, or inspirational … [Read more...]
Twiddle one’s thumbs
The expression twiddle one's thumbs is an idiom that came into use in the mid-1800s. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Common idioms are words and phrases used in the English language in order to convey a concise idea, and are often spoken or are considered informal or conversational. An idiom can illustrate emotion more quickly than a phrase that has a literal meaning, even when the origin of the … [Read more...]
The jaws of life
The jaws of life is a term that has been in use since the early 1970s. We will examine the meaning of the expression jaws of life, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. The jaws of life is a term that refers to many hydraulic rescue tools used by emergency response crews in order to extricate an accident victim from the wreckage of a rollover, car crash, or other vehicular accident. In most cases, the first responder who aids victims in their escape from such an … [Read more...]
Blow someone’s cover
To blow someone's cover is an idiom that has been in use for about one hundred years. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Common idioms are words and phrases used in the English language in order to convey a concise idea, and are often spoken or are considered informal or conversational. An idiom can illustrate emotion more quickly than a phrase that has a literal meaning, even when the origin of the … [Read more...]
Enfant terrible
Enfant terrible is an English idiom that has come to English from the French. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Common idioms are words and phrases used in the English language in order to convey a concise idea, and are often spoken or are considered informal or conversational. Usage of an idiom can illustrate emotion more quickly than a phrase that has a literal meaning, even when the origin of the … [Read more...]
High-handed
High-handed is an idiom that has been in use in English since the 1630s. An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. Common idioms are words and phrases used in the English language in order to convey a concise idea, and these expressions are often spoken or are considered informal or conversational. An idiom can illustrate emotion more quickly than a phrase that has a literal meaning, even when the origin of … [Read more...]