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Behind closed doors
Phrase: Behind closed doors Many things go on behind closed doors, and the first thing that may have come to your mind is not what this phrase means. I want to quote the former Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau. This quote is from 1967, when he was Justice Minister and before he became Prime Minister.…
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Wishful thinking
WotD: Wishful thinking Today is Monday! This is going to be the best week of your life! You’ll get that promotion you’ve always wanted, win the lottery and find ¥50,000 between the sofa cushions. Then again, it could all be wishful thinking. Wishful thinking is thinking or talking about bizarre things happening in the future as…
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The light at the end of the tunnel
Phrase: The light at the end of the tunnel We’re all here in the dark together, with our arms outstretched, slowly moving forward, eyes straining to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Some pessimists will tell you to be careful what you wish for because that light is just as likely to be…
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A fish out of water
Idiom: A fish out of water Fish live in water; that’s where they’re most comfortable. If we put a fish in a situation without water, it would feel uncomfortable. That’s what today’s phrase a fish out of water means – to be uncomfortable in a particular situation. Most of us have a natural affinity or aptitude for certain things.…
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Fall from grace
Phrase: Fall from grace As Bon Scott, the former lead singer of AC/DC, once sang, “It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘N’ roll.” In Japan, the fall from grace is swift and brutal if you get to the top and do something wrong. In most other Western countries, if you…
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Downplay
Word of the Day: Downplay As often happens with new technology, we tend to emphasize the benefits and downplay the drawbacks. What I mean by that is we tend to make things seem less important or harmful than they really are. Downplay means to make things seem less important or harmful than they really are.…
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Date yourself
Phrase: Date yourself No, this is not the ultimate in self-love. If you date yourself, you do or say something revealing your age. As you already know, language is in constant flux. What I mean is it has a life of its own. You do not use many of the words that your parents used. Likewise, many of…
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Avid
Word of the Day: Avid Want to achieve a sense of fulfillment in your life? Find your passion. Once you discover what you are avid about, look for a way to make that your job or a significant part of your life. As the saying goes, find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day…
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Speak truth to power
Phrase: Speak truth to power The most important things are often the most difficult to do. Many people have been ridiculed, beaten, jailed or murdered because they spoke truth to power. Some of the most famous names in history are those of people who chose to confront authority about injustices instead of meekly standing by. …
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Disruptive technology
WotD: Disruptive technology The one thing about disruptive technology, which is essential to know, is that it’s not always what you expect it to be. All the items on the desk above have been termed disruptive technology at one time or another. Disruptive technology is new technology that changes the way things are done. It…
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