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It's the thought that counts
English Phrase: It’s the thought that counts We’re coming up on Christmas. It’s the time of year when we want to show our love and appreciation to others by giving them something special. We also often forget it’s the thought that counts, not the value of the gift. It’s the thought that counts means the…
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Snowed under
WotD: Snowed under What a great time of year to talk about being snowed under, eh? Luckily, Wakayama doesn’t get much snow because of our subtropical climate. Yes, it does snow sometimes, but it never sticks around for long. A massive dump of snow, though, is not the only meaning of what it means to…
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Young at heart
Phrase: Young at heart Have you ever noticed how the happiest people are the ones who maintain a positive attitude and remain young at heart? These people somehow seem to be able to hang on to part of their childhood, whereas, for many people, their attitudes deteriorate as they age. Not only does their hair…
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Rise to the occasion
English Phrase: Rise to the occasion It’s true; I was a bit leery about writing a post on rising to the occasion at this time of year. Due to all the merrymaking going on, I’d say many people are finding it a challenge just to get out of bed, let alone perform better than they…
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In the cold light of day
English Phrase: In the cold light of day It’s often hard to make a rational decision when we are feeling emotional. That’s one of the reasons why the healing effects of retail therapy are usually short-lived. At this time of year, I’m delighted to be living in Japan. It’s the shopping season, you see, and…
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Bring (something) to the table
Phrase: Bring (something) to the table In a North American job interview, it’s common for the candidate to be asked how they can benefit the company. In other words, what they can bring to the table. When you bring something to the table, you have something, such as a skill or expertise, to offer that…
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Catch
Word of the Day: Catch Oh boy, this one always gets me. No matter what I do, there is always a catch, and nothing goes as smoothly as advertised. I began this website in early 2016. At that time, when it came to technology, I was what is called a laggard. It’s the complete opposite…
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The camera doesn't lie
English Proverb: The camera doesn’t lie Halloween is over, but I’d still like to scare your socks off today. We have entered the video era when everyone and their dog is posting videos to Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo and TikTok, among others. The thing is, though, that the camera doesn’t lie unless, of course, you want…
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Tell tales out of school
English Phrase: Tell tales out of school We’ll start with the bottom line today. Everyone loves a bit of gossip, but nobody likes it when you tell tales out of school about them. That’s the truth of it. To tell tales out of school means to participate in spreading gossip, secrets, lies or rumours about…
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Be a thing
WotD: Be a thing Every business person wants their product to be a thing, and almost every famous person wants to be a thing, too. When someone or something is a thing, it/they are well known and recognized. It often refers to fads. So many have been a thing in Japan since I came here…
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