Showing thanks is an integral part of who we are as human beings. In fact, a study by Harvard found that people who often express their gratitude tend to be happier than those who just focus on the negative aspects of their lives. They tend to feel more optimistic and to have a better feeling …
Vocabulary
Slang can be completely incomprehensible, even if the expression is written in plain English. That’s sort of the beauty of it actually. You need someone to clue you in. Today we will clue you in on the slang expression “Say less.” Let’s dive right in. What does “say less” mean? ‘Say less’ is …
The phrase “in a timely manner” conjures up images of a bygone era when time seemed to move more slowly. It has its origins in the emergence of bureaucracy, and has been replaced by terms more commonly used these days in project management. In the 21st century, we would more likely speak of delivering, ‘to …
Now and then, you’ll find yourself at a disadvantage. Despite your best efforts, your rival or opponent might have a leg up on you. Losing can feel hopeless and frustrating, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t reverse your fortune and take control of the situation. When people are sure of their victory, they may …
In certain situations, you may be required to refer to somebody by an honorific or some respectful form of address. In Japan, you may call an older coworker or classmate “Senpai.” If you work at a grocery store, then it’s polite to refer to a male customer as “Sir.” In a similar vein, it’s polite …
You can’t always be right. It’s easy to assume that you know the answer, but when you find out that you were wrong, you must be sure to handle it gracefully. After all, everybody is wrong once in a while. While some people try to act like they’re right no matter what, those people are …
Generally speaking, the rules of a language follow the same patterns. For example, when speaking English and asking a question, the subject of the question almost always comes before the main verb, while an auxiliary verb such as “do” or “have” precedes the subject. However, that hasn’t always been the case. The further back we …
The US has always had to do things differently than the rest of the world. For starters, there must have been a point in time when everybody decided that the metric system is the way to go, but then Americans said, “Nah, we’re sticking to imperial units even though it makes no sense and is …
Both music and the industry surrounding it have enriched the English language with countless words and expressions, many of which we use on a daily basis without even noticing. Don’t believe me? Here are a few examples of the many options out there. The word “diss” comes from the early years of hip hop. Rappers …