TEN THINGS TO DO WITH TIME

At 02:00 today in the UK, we lost an hour when we put the clocks forward. On 27th October, (unless the government decides to stop this practice) we’ll gain an hour by putting the clocks back.

The English language contains many phrases associated with time. Here are ten of them.

 ⌚ Sometimes, we struggle to FIND time to do things.
e.g. “It’s hard enough to find time to get to the bank without having to travel.”


 ⌚ As a musician or conductor, you might KEEP time.
e.g. “A good sense of internal time is a must for every musician. You need to be able to keep time accurately yourself, but also play together in larger groups.”

Timepieces (clocks and watches) and electronic devices also keep time for us.
e.g. “Harrison became obsessed with the challenge, and set about making a high-precision clock that would keep time despite changes in weather and the motion of the waves.”


 ⌚ If we are waiting for something, we might want to KILL time.
e.g. “He was simply killing time before his train home.

 ⌚ To achieve something quickly, we try not to LOSE time.
e.g. “You may lose time compared with petrol car journeys if you’re foolish or unlucky enough to leave home without a full charge, but you’ll see much more of the wide world than you would have done.”


 ⌚ Even when we are busy, we usually MAKE time for things that are important to us.
e.g. “No matter how busy you are, make time for your children.”


 ⌚ If you are not busy, you might do something to PASS the time.
e.g. “Al Taghrooda is a tradition that started among Bedouin camel riders to pass the time during their long and arduous journeys through the desert.”


 ⌚ Finding a faster way to do something may allow us to SAVE time.
e.g. “By getting an algorithm to do the initial work of sorting through the data, researchers save time that they can better spend following up on volcanoes of interest, Biggs says.”

 ⌚ We might SPEND time doing something or SPEND time with other people.
e.g. “Built in timber, wrapped in glass and held together with marine-grade stainless steel, it is a joy to spend time in.”

 ⌚ We can also TAKE time.
e.g. “The economy is taking a hit of £21 billion a year as up to 70 per cent of our van drivers take time off with long-term back pain.”


 ⌚ We are encouraged not to WASTE time.
e.g. “Students complained the error had distracted them and led them to waste time on a question the board later admitted was ‘unanswerable’.”


Photo credit: Paul Hudson

COUCH POTATO

A couch potato spends a lot of time watching television and takes little exercise.

 Examples of use:

 “Tests on 3,500 adults over 50 found that verbal memory decline was twice as bad in couch potatoes, compared to lesser TV watchers, over six years.”

 “An app really can take you from couch potato to half-marathon runner in just eight weeks.”

 “But the whole point of Lent is it’s supposed to be a challenge, so stop being a couch potato and limit your time in front of the TV.”


This ingenious phrase originated in the US around 1976. A potato is a tuber (a vegetable that grows from a thick underground stem), and the slang term “boob tuber” was used at the time to refer to someone who was addicted to the “boob tube,” a slang term for television [1]. This somehow evolved into “couch potato.”

 [1] Cresswell, Julia. “couch potato” in The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins. Oxford University Press, 2009. 

Photo credit: Jana Vanden Eynde

PEARLS OF WISDOM

The phrase “pearls of wisdom” is used (sometimes jokingly) to describe wise or helpful facts or advice.

 Examples of use:

 “This is only one of the many dubious pearls of wisdom my four-and-a-half-year-old daughter has gleaned from YouTube.”

 “‘Mother less, tidy up less, forgive yourself and don’t be afraid of formula,’ are among her fearlessly delivered pearls of wisdom.”

 “Mr Obama is then said to have imparted the pearls of wisdom.”


 Photo credit: Paulo O

GHOST TOWN

A previously busy town with few or no remaining inhabitants is known as a ghost town.

 Examples of use:

 “Located in the Italian region of Basilicata, lies Craco, a fascinating ancient ghost town that was once a medieval village, but has now been uninhabited for more than 50 years, Ancient Origins reports.”

 “One day this city of grand ambition and breathtaking culture will be a ghost town.”

 “Chris Wilkinson said: ‘South Shields should be free parking – that’s why it is becoming a ghost town.’”


 The song “Ghost Town,” released on 12 June 1981 by the British band The Specials, topped the UK charts.

 Photo credit: Dage - Looking For Europe

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD – A PLAN B IS NEEDED!

A plan B is an alternative strategy, which may be needed if plan A (the original strategy) doesn’t work.

 Examples of use:

 “While investor patience has practically evaporated, and as one of the last surviving female FTSE 100 CEO's prepares to depart, the real question is: does Kingfisher have a plan B?”

 “One suspects they will go through with the merger whatever cost is inflicted on them by the CMA as they appear to have no plan B.”

 “The Brexit crisis has prompted the CBI and the TUC to issue a joint statement, urging the government to find a Plan B.”


 A related idiom, “back to the drawing board,” indicates that the original idea or plan was unsuccessful and that a new one must be created.

 e.g. “North Bristol politicians from both Labour and the Conservative Party have called on the council to go back to the drawing board and look again at plans for the A4018.”

“That, along with the speaker’s ruling, may force the prime minister to go back to the drawing board.”

“The Dutchman signed a new deal with Ajax this week and Arsenal are now back to the drawing board in their search for a technical director.”


Photo credit: 準建築人手札網站 Forgemind ArchiMedia

STEALING SOMEONE’S THUNDER

To steal someone’s thunder is to take attention away from them by pre-empting their attempt to impress.

 Examples of use:

 “In 1999, she returned to the Eurovision stage and stole the winners’ thunder by falling over on stage when about to hand Sweden their trophy.”

 “Cheeky page boy steals bride’s thunder by giving the flower girl a kiss at just the right moment”

 “It was a performance which stole much of the thunder on the final day of the championship from newly crowned Grand Slam champions Wales”


 The phrase was coined by critic and playwright John Dennis (1657–1734), who invented a new method of simulating the sound of thunder in the theatre and used it in his play “Appius and Virginia.” Shortly after this unsuccessful play completed a brief run, Dennis attended a performance of Macbeth, which used his thunder simulation. He was reported to have angrily exclaimed, “Damn them! They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder.” [1]


 [1] “steal” in Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.

 Photo credit: Iraia Martínez

STORMS BLOW OVER

When we say that a storm has “blown over,” we mean that it has gone or faded away.

 As with the idiom “a storm in a teacup,” we use a storm as an analogy for trouble when we say that a situation will “blow over,” indicating that it will fade away without serious consequences.

 Examples of use:

 “But he predicted many institutions ‘are probably just hoping the furore will blow over.’”

 “If the daily news cycle leaves you wanting to batten down the hatches and wait for it all to blow over, you’re far from alone.”

 (This quote includes yet another storm-related idiom, “batten down the hatches,” which means to prepare for a crisis.)

 “Hopefully this wave of speculation can soon blow over and Neil’s name can stay clear of the gossip columns.”



 The phrase “blow over” also appears in other contexts:

 “As the day moves on, the storm will begin to blow over, and the warnings are due to expire by 3pm.” (The phrase is used literally here to describe a physical storm.)

 “Helen Jones and campaigners suffer blow over Peel Hall” (In this headline, a “blow” symbolises bad news.)

 “Residents are warned to be alert for flying debris, and for high-profile vehicles that could blow over.” (To “blow over” in this context means to fall over due to the force of the wind.)



Photo credit: mrpbps

A STORM IN A TEACUP

Continuing the weather theme, the idiom “a storm in a teacup” is used to describe great excitement or outrage over something trivial.

 Examples of use:

 “You could be forgiven for thinking the whole furore was a storm in a teacup.”

 “Cleveland Golf Club captain, Martin Flemming, told Teesside Live the incident was merely a ‘storm in a teacup’ and that it is common practice for staff to shout if someone is in potential danger on the course.”

 “A trader is fuming about replacement tropical tree planters near his business, but the head of Penzance BID has branded the matter ‘a storm in a teacup.’”


 The phrase apparently dates back to the 19th century, although a similar phrase, “a storm in a cream bowl” dates back to the 1670s [1].


 The North American version of this phrase “a tempest in a teapot” is also regularly used.

 e.g. “It was a tempest in a teapot. There was no excess of any eye problem in those patients.”


 [1] Cresswell, Julia. “tea” in The Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins. Oxford University Press, 2009.

 Photo credit: Petra Bensted

UNDER THE WEATHER

Today is World Meteorological Day.

 Meteorology is the branch of science concerned with forecasting the weather. The World Meteorological Organization was established 69 years ago, on 23 March 1950.

 The English language contains several idioms related to weather.

 Someone who is under the weather is slightly unwell or in low spirits (sad or depressed).

 Examples:

 “So, if you start to feel under the weather, help your body to recover by getting more sleep.”

 “GPs in Newham have urged those feeling under the weather this winter to see a pharmacist early on to get expert advice and treatment.”

 “I eat this when I feel under the weather, and also when I want something satisfyingly warm and straightforward.”


 Photo credit: caradoue (Creative Commons)

LEAVING BEHIND

Today is World Water Day, and the 2019 theme for this event is “Leaving no one behind.” What does this phrase mean?

 If a country, person or organisation is left behind, they remain at a lower level than others in that they are disadvantaged compared to them. The United Nations aims to ensure no one is “left behind” with respect to water access by ensuring that everyone has access to safe and clean water for drinking and sanitation by 2030.

Other examples of the phrase used in this context:

“When it comes to education, no-one should be left behind.”

“Digital technologies can be valuable tools to improve public services and reduce health and social inequalities, but should not be adopted as ‘fashion trends’ that leave some people behind.”



The phrasal verb “to leave (someone or something) behind” is also used in a more literal context when someone goes away from (leaves) a person, situation or thing.

e.g. “Originally from Jamaica, Lucille left her family behind and travelled alone to England in 1960 to train as a nurse, becoming the first West Indian midwife ever to join Nonnatus House.”

“Ronald first arrived in 1961 by air, leaving behind his job as a waiter, to lay the foundation for his family to establish a new life in Britain.”

“While the most of the items left behind by customers were everyday items such as mobile phone chargers, tablets, toiletry bags and books, others were less common.”

Photo credit: Julien Harneis

ENGLISH TENSES (12) FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

The FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE is formed using “will have been” with the -ing form of the verb (e.g. I will have been working).

 The future perfect continuous tense is used to emphasise the duration of an action.


 e.g. “In 2020, we will have been running for 70 years.” (In this article, “we” is The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.)

 Another common use of this tense, which does not appear to be mentioned in the textbooks, is to speculate about something that happened in the past

 e.g. “Cottam started operating in 1969 and is capable of powering around 3.7m homes, though in recent years it will have been operating well below its maximum capacity.”

 e.g. “This rope will have been slowly breaking down in the sun and shedding tiny bits of micro fibre into the sea for animals to ingest.”


Photo credit: James Stringer

ENGLISH TENSES (11) FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE

The FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE is formed using “will have” with the past participle of the verb (e.g. I will have worked).

 The future perfect simple tense is used:


 (1) to describe an action finishing before a time in the future, e.g. “By July this year, the bursary trainees will have achieved their ‘intermediate’ qualification and be ready to start their careers as professional dry stone wallers.”


 (2) when a future time is implied or is not stated, e.g., “Candidates will have experience in children’s fiction publishing, and will have worked on both illustrated and non-illustrated titles.”


 (3) to make a deduction about something that has already happened, e.g. “Badgers will have lived in that sett for perhaps hundreds of years. Badgers don’t like to be moved.”

Photo credit: Tim Brookes

ENGLISH TENSES (10) FUTURE CONTINUOUS

The FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE is formed using “will be” with the -ing form of a verb
 (e.g. I will be working).

 The future continuous tense is used:


 (1) to describe something that will happen at a given point in the future, e.g. “The South Devon Railway has announced that steam locomotive 1501 will be visiting them in 2019.”

 (2) to speculate about what is happening in the present, e.g. “It is autumn, and many people will not be using their pools at the moment, but they will still be full of water and we all know water is very enticing to children.”


Photo credit: ianpreston

ENGLISH TENSES (9) FUTURE SIMPLE

The FUTURE SIMPLE TENSE is formed using “will” with the base form (root) of a verb
 (e.g. I will work).

 The future simple tense is used:


 (1) to express certainty about a future event, e.g. “I will be 70 this year, so I come from an age before plastic.”


 (2) to communicate a decision made at the time of speaking, e.g. “I’ll have the chicken curry” (I'll = I will)


 (3) to predict something, e.g. “Talking about the technology behind the project, Drax chief executive Andy Koss said: ‘I think it will make a huge difference to the business and for our employees. I think it will give us a longer future.’”

 (4) to express determination, e.g. “To celebrate my 50th birthday I will complete a run across Europe, from the Netherlands to Estonia.”


 (5) to make a promise or threat, e.g. “I am on annual leave until dd/mm/yyyy. I will allow each sender one email and if you send me multiple emails, I will randomly delete your emails until there is only one remaining.”


Photo credit: Ian Britton

ENGLISH TENSES (8) PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

The PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE is formed using “had been” with the -ing form of a verb (e.g. I had been working).

 The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe a past action that continues up to another past action, e.g. “The moose had been walking around outside the house in Breckenridge when it fell into a window well early Friday morning and crashed through into the basement.”

In other words, as the song says, “hoots mon there’s a moose loose aboot this hoose” 😃

  Photo credit: Tony’s Takes

ENGLISH TENSES (7) PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

The PAST PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE is formed using “had” with the past participle of a verb
 (e.g. I had worked).

 The past perfect simple tense is used:


 (1) to discuss an action that happened before another action in the past, e.g. “Theo had visited London before his marriage”


 (2) to express regret, e.g. “I wish I had visited San Borjitas by helicopter.”

 Photo credit: Robert Shea

ENGLISH TENSES (6) PAST CONTINUOUS

The PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE is formed using was/were with the -ing form of a verb
 (e.g. I was working).

 The past continuous tense is used for:


 (1) an action that took place at a specific time in the past, e.g. “This time last year, everyone was talking about the Leonardo da Vinci that sold to the Louvre Abu Dhabi for $450 million.”


 (2) an action interrupted by another action, e.g. “These delays meant electric trains were not running on these lines when the timetable overhaul happened.”


 (3) two simultaneous actions, e.g. “The snake bit the woman while she was visiting Whixall Moss, near Whitchurch, north Shropshire, on Saturday afternoon.”

 (4) setting (describing) a scene, e.g. “‘It was raining hard, the wind was blowing, the rough was high and it was hard to reach certain greens,’ he said.”


 Photo credit: Sue Cro

ENGLISH TENSES (5) PAST SIMPLE

The PAST SIMPLE TENSE is formed using the past participle (typically ending in -ed) of a verb (e.g. I worked).

 The past simple tense is used for:


 (1) a past action with a time marker, e.g. “A Government Minister visited Bradford College yesterday to see how the college helps its students into work.”


 (2) past events that no longer continue, e.g. “Thousands of years ago, lava flowed across these wetlands, cooling into huge petrified tubes and creating surreal formations.”

 (3) polite requests or suggestions, e.g. “I wondered if I might see you here. I’d very much like to discuss your work, if you have a moment.”


 (4) hypothetical present/future situations, e.g. “If I lived in England I’d like to live in Clitheroe.”


Photo credit: mariejirousek

TODAY’S NEW WORD: TABULA RASA (A CLEAN SLATE)

The Latin term “tabula rasa” means “clean slate” and indicates an absence of preconceived ideas. It is used especially in relation to the mind and was introduced by the English philosopher John Locke (1632–1704) as a metaphor for the human mind at birth. Locke believed that the mind is originally empty and that all knowledge comes through the senses [1].

 e.g.  “No, the extremist view is to believe that we are born tabula rasa — the product of our environment and nothing else.”

 The phrase in English, “a clean slate,” is used slightly differently to indicate an absence of existing commitments.

 e.g. “My retirement will enable the performance director to commence their duties with a clean slate with a new support team going forward.”

 “Swansea will go into their massive cup tie with Manchester City on Saturday with a clean slate, renewed motivation, and presumably, a new penalty taker.”


 [1] Colman, Andrew M. “tabula rasa” in A Dictionary of Psychology. Oxford University Press, 2015. 

 Photo credit: Nic McPhee

ENGLISH TENSES (4) PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

The PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE (also known as the present perfect progressive tense) is formed using  “has/have been” with the -ing form of a verb
 (e.g. I have been working).

 The present perfect continuous tense is used for:

 (1) a past action that still continues, e.g. “For years, the monks have been baking bread rolls and growing vegetables to help people struggling to feed themselves and their families, and they said it seems the situation is getting worse.”

 (2) a past action with results that continue to the present, e.g. “Claudia Winkleman And Tess Daly Have Been Dancing All Night For Comic Relief” (article headline)


 Photo credit: macleodfamily

ENGLISH TENSES (3) PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

The PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE is formed using the present tense of the verb “to have” with the past participle (typically ending in -ed) of a verb (e.g. I have worked).

 The present perfect simple tense is used:

 (1) for actions that began in the past and continue to the present, e.g. “I have lived in Scotland full-time for the last 20 years.”

 (2) for actions that recently finished whose results remain, e.g. “I have lost seven stone since January this year.”


 (3) for actions that happened in the past, for which no time is specified, e.g. “I have visited lots of businesses across the country and met and spoken to many fantastic and talented apprentices.”


 (4) with words such as already, just and still,

 e.g. “At the age of just 21, she has already written a handful of books, the latest of which recalls her own arrival in the UK.”

 “He has just visited Palmerston North to give a public talk about his ‘travels in autism.’”

 “It’s the age of social media and there’s nothing that my family doesn’t know. But they have still disowned me.”


 Photo credit: Antonio Cinotti

DROP A CLANGER

To drop a clanger is to make an embarrassing mistake, especially in a social context.

 Examples of use:

 “He is married to Lucia Guo, who was born in Xian in central China, and they have three children. During a recent trip to China he dropped a clanger by saying his wife was Japanese instead.”

 “He gets so close to making it through the interview, but ultimately drops a clanger.”

 “It is not uncommon for a goalkeeper to drop a clanger now and again, but you have to feel for Crystal Palace shot-stopper Julian Speroni on this occasion.”

 You may remember the children’s TV series, The Clangers. You can find their website here (videos included).

 This expression originates from the mid 20th century and is thought to relate to the loud clang made by dropping certain objects, which attracts attention.

 [1] “drop” In Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.

 Photo credit: diamond geezer

ENGLISH TENSES (2) PRESENT CONTINUOUS

The PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE is formed using the present tense of the verb “to be” with the -ing form of a verb (e.g. I am working).

This tense is also sometimes called the present progressive.

The present continuous tense is used for:

(1) describing what you are doing at the time you are speaking, e.g. “I am working to improve bus reliability in Romford, using new technology that tells the traffic signals if a bus is running late against its schedule.”

(2) describing a temporary state or action, e.g. “I have lost over £40,000 so far and at the moment I am living off savings after selling my house.”

(3) using with “always” to describe a habit, e.g. “I am always cooking and being creative.”

(4) describing future arrangements, e.g. “I am going to Germany in October and decided to book in August as I thought it would be cheaper.”


Photo credit: Steven’s Transport Photos

ENGLISH TENSES (1) PRESENT SIMPLE

The English language has twelve tenses – four present, four past and four future, and these are all taught in courses for people learning English as a second language.

 Strangely, many native speakers, while they use these tenses regularly, are unable to identify them all, probably because they were not always taught in schools. From my own point of view, I learned to identify the twelve tenses only after obtaining a certificate in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). Before then, while I could use them correctly, I could not have named them all.

 PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE
 (e.g. I work.)

 Unlike many other languages, in English, we don’t use the present simple tense to describe something that we are doing now. We use the PRESENT CONTINUOUS for that, which will be covered in the next post in this series.

 The present simple tense is used for:

 (1) describing a habit (something we do regularly), e.g. “I go to the market to buy food every day.”

 (2) describing a (semi)permanent situation, e.g. “I live in Glasgow – a fantastic city.”

 (3) stating a fact, e.g. “Most geese fly south for the winter”

 (4) imperatives (commands or instructions), e.g. “Don’t [you] touch the wet paint” (The word “you” is normally omitted in such commands.)

 (5) newspaper headlines, e.g. “Hamilton Place fire causes Edinburgh travel disruption”

 (6) events planned for the future, e.g. “Tomorrow I go to the Capital for the Senate Health Committee Meeting where AB 1971 is on the agenda to be heard.”

 (7) narrative (historical present), e.g. “His athlete lottery funding eventually ceased and he says some people who had shown concern at first have since faded into the shadows.”

 Photo credit: Eduards Osis

WHAT IS GUMPTION?

Someone who has “gumption” shows a mixture of bravery and resourcefulness.

 Examples of use:

 “Clara’s sheer gumption in holding everything together after her husband’s illness and death would command admiration in the 21st century, let alone the mid-19th.”

 “Fans of the crustacean will be worried to hear that the future of the local industry is under threat, according to local fishermen. They argue that young people don’t want the work involved in a life catching Cromer crabs, and that they don’t have the gumption to stick at it.”

 “Mr Wild has over 30 years’ experience in the advertising industry and is described as having the right mix of insight, humour and gumption that is only found in true leaders of the industry.”


 The origin of this word is unknown [1].


 Photo credit: Franco Folini

 [1] “gumption” in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, edited by Hoad, T. F., Oxford University Press, 1996

THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL

The phrase “the writing is on the wall” is a signal that something unpleasant is about to happen.

  Examples of use:

  “The writing was on the wall for Jenners toy shop”

 “Why the writing’s on the wall for Berlin’s murals”

 “He said that firms like Cadbury have ‘seen the writing on the wall’ after the government introduced a sugar levy on drinks earlier this year.”


 This phrase has a biblical origin; the book of Daniel, chapter 5, describes how writing appeared on the palace wall during a feast given by Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon, foretelling that he would be killed and the city ransacked [1].

 The words written were MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN; Daniel interpreted this as ‘God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end’ (MENE), ‘you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting’ (TEKEL), and ‘your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians’ (PARSIN).


 [1] “writing on the wall, the” In The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press, 2005.

 Photo credit: Barb Nerdy

ONCE, TWICE, THRICE

The words once, twice and thrice can replace “one time,” “two times” and “three times” in describing how many times something happens, allowing more concise writing. (There are no terms for “four times” and above.)

 Examples of use:

 “Never before in the history of the English top flight has a team been beaten only once during the entire season and not won the championship.”

 “One in five said they were never able to read to their children, with more than a quarter of those surveyed only able to read to their children once a week or less.”

 “Parents can help reduce their children’s sugar intake by making simple swaps when shopping and making sure their children’s teeth are brushed twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.”

 “A 28-year-old man has been banned from the roads after he was caught driving without insurance twice in five months.”

 “He was thrice a major contender for his country’s highest office.”

 “In time for the 2019 tourist season, Scotland’s most modern catamaran ROPAX ferry with the name Alfred proudly displayed on her bow and stern, will start her thrice-daily crossings of the Pentland Firth’s busiest sea route.”

 (The term “thrice” is less popular than “twice;” “three times” is used more commonly than “thrice,” while “twice” is used more often than “two times.”

  Photo credit: D Coetzee

PHUBBING

The verb “phub”  is a combination (portmanteau) of the words “snub” (ignore someone) and “phone,” and it means to ignore someone while using a mobile phone.

 The word was invented in Australia only a few years ago as part of a publicity campaign involving the McCann advertising agency and the Macquarie Dictionary. It is now included in mainstream British online dictionaries (e.g. the Oxford, Collins and Cambridge English dictionaries).


 Examples of use:

 “Several studies have shown that phubbing makes face-to-face interactions less meaningful.”

 “After a particular experience of his own, Varoth Chotpitayasunondh, from the University of Kent, UK, decided to carry out research into the psychology of phubbing and found that it can affect relationships and mental health.”

 “Our advice for the next time you get phubbed is refreshingly simple: don’t let your rage silently bubble at boiling point while you pour yourself another glass of wine, hoping that the illuminated phone opposite you will somehow explode if you stare at it long enough. Phub them right back.”


 Photo credit: Erwin Soo

PICKING PEOPLE UP

There are many ways of picking someone up. If you have a young child, you might physically pick them up to lift them in your arms or, as a skater or dancer, you might pick up (lift) your partner.

 However, the phrase is used idiomatically to describe collecting someone from somewhere, often in a car. This is normally arranged in advance.

 e.g. “There is a new luxury addition at Edinburgh airport. Now you can order a new chauffeur service to pick you up from the tarmac and take you to your destination.”

 “On a Tuesday the in-laws picked him up from nursery and when he got home he was clutching a book.”

 The phrase is sometimes used in relation to initiating contact with a stranger, sometimes in a sinister sense without their consent.

 e.g. “The conductor on the Brighton Beach train tried to pick me up and wanted me to go out with him, but I didn’t give him a chance to.”

 This term is also used to describe an arrest by the police.

 e.g. “Norman, of no fixed abode, was convicted of two counts of possessing a knife in his absence on July 19 but appeared at Leicester Magistrates Court today after being picked up by the police.”

 Photo credit: Greg Williams

OUT OF THE BLUE

Something that happens “out of the blue” occurs without warning. It probably originates from the longer phrase, “a bolt out of the blue.”

The phrase refers to a clear blue sky, from which nothing unusual would be expected [1].

Examples:

“‘I was given the idea that something was going to happen, but I didn’t know that it was going to be the club being sold,’ he told BBC Radio Cornwall. ‘It came as a complete bolt out of the blue to me and to everyone else on the playing and management staff.’”

“Keith Wilson, from Liverpool, had a heart attack out of the blue at 37.”

“Paul Hymas, a spokesman for the Le Port campervan users, said that the minister’s decision was ‘out of the blue’ and made without speaking to them, despite assurances that ‘stakeholders’ would be consulted on any proposals for regulating the site.”


A similar phrase “out of a clear blue sky” has the same meaning.

e.g. “Out of a clear blue sky, I heard my name and looked up. The teacher was looking at me with a quizzical expression.”


[1] “blue” In Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Photo credit: Jim Culp

YOU COULD HAVE KNOCKED ME DOWN WITH A FEATHER

You might say “you could have knocked me down with a feather” to express extreme surprise.

 Examples:

 “After help in filling out the forms and a 20-minute telephone interview, Alan said he was ‘absolutely shocked’ to be told that he and his wife were entitled to so much extra money. ‘You could have knocked me down with a feather,’ he said.”

 “Raye, the most unassuming of men, had only decided to accept the honour on the last day allowed by Downing Street. ‘Honestly,’ he says, ‘you could have knocked me down with a feather.’”

 “I was in the waiting room at the doctors and I had ruled out Parkinson’s because I thought it was an old person thing. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I found out.”


 This expression apparently dates from the mid 19th century, although a similar idiom (‘you might have beat me down with a feather’) was used in Samuel Richardson’s novel Pamela (published in 1740) [1].


 [1] “knock” in Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.

 Photo credit: Chris (Creative Commons)

 Updated Sunday 08 March 2020

PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS

If you put your money where your mouth is, you take action that supports your statements or opinions.

 Examples of use:

 “When this plan is approved we need the Government to put its money where its mouth is, and come forward with its delivery proposals as soon as possible.”

 “So that’s why this year I’ve decided to put my money where my mouth is and run the world’s most famous marathon in aid of them.”

 “The Green Party councillor said: ‘This is a chance for you to put your money where your mouth is if you want to make Exeter more active. You will be letting the residents down with such an unpopular decision so please do the decent thing and prevent the sale of the ski club.’”


This idiom originated in the early 1900s. It initially referred to contributing money to support one’s statements but was since extended to include any type of action [1].


The phrase “actions speak louder than words” has a similar meaning, indicating that what someone does is more important than what they say.

e.g. “The age old saying of actions speak louder than words is very relevant when it comes to a job interview. If you are fidgeting and avoiding eye contact, your interviewer will pick up on this and see it as a negative.”


 [1] “put one’s money where one’s mouth is” in The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms, by Christine Ammer. 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin, 2013. 

 Photo credit: Christian Bucad