One way language can be confusing is that there are certain phrases that can mean different things in different contexts. This can be confusing because it’s not just about the words themselves. It’s about picking up on other things about the situation and interpreting what is being said to you. The expression “duly noted” is …
Vocabulary
They say wisdom comes with age, which may help explain why some of the best advice we hear has been passed down through the centuries and comes to us in the form of well-worn proverbs and adages. While there is certainly something to be gained from ancient wisdom, much of the language used in old …
The idiom “errands to run” can be confusing the first time you see it. Who is running where? In fact, however, it has a fairly straightforward meaning. It means undertaking a short journey to complete one or several tasks. Idioms are a group of words that have a figurative meaning that is difficult to deduce …
What does ‘Without a Shadow of a Doubt’ mean? “Without a shadow of a doubt” means that there is absolute certainty in the mind of the speaker or author about something. There is no possibility of ambiguity in the statement or sentiment expressed. It is not quantifiable yet is used to express a strong opinion …
As you were going about your daily dose of social media, you came across phrases like “to make a save” or “to pull off a sensational save.” You said to yourself, “I think these look a bit awkwardly formed.” A few seconds and mouse clicks later, you’ve reached our site to seek some answers. Welcome …
Money is something that’s on a lot of people’s minds. It makes sense, then, that there are lots of expressions about money. If your attempt to succeed isn’t quite good enough, someone might say you’re a day late and a dollar short. If you’re frugal, you’re probably a believer in the saying that a …
A very common English idiom you might have heard is “to turn the other cheek.” Many idioms in English use animals, such as saying “the elephant in the room” for a big topic that everyone is afraid to discuss or “hold your horses” to tell someone to slow down or wait. Another animal idiom is …
According to science, the human brain is genetically designed to seek order or pattern and loathe chaos. This is one of the reasons why we tend to find ourselves indulging in linguistic inquiries, searching for a deeper meaning of even the most mundane English phrases on earth. To make sense of the obscure, we’ll look …
An idiom is an expression that is commonly understood by speakers of a language but which does not literally mean what it says. This can make idioms very confusing if you are not a native speaker or even if you are a native speaker but you have just never heard the idiom before. “In the …