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Over the top
Phrase: Over the top Over the top is a versatile phrase that can convey the idea of excessiveness or exaggeration in various contexts. Whether describing someone’s behaviour, a performance, or a reaction, using over-the-top indicates going beyond what is considered appropriate or expected. In everyday conversation, we often use the expression over the top to…
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Newbie
Word of the Day: Newbie No matter who you are, what you do, or how much experience you now have, you were once a newbie. Everyone starts from zero. A newbie is someone new to a particular activity, community, or environment. Newbies are often inexperienced or unfamiliar with the ins and outs of a specific…
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Fleeting
Word of the Day: Fleeting Fleeting moments come and go in the blink of an eye. The term fleeting is often used in poetic or romantic contexts to describe transient, brief, and ephemeral moments. These moments are usually so short that they may pass by unnoticed if one is not paying attention. The word fleeting…
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Cutting edge
WotD: Cutting edge As we can see from the lightning-fast implementation of AI, staying ahead of the curve is absolutely crucial in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. When I think of AI, the term cutting edge comes to mind. Cutting edge refers to the most advanced stage of development in any field of activity. It…
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All the rage
Idiom: All the rage All the rage is a popular idiom that has been all the rage in everyday language for a dog’s age. Ha, ha! In this day and age, all the ‘trending’ topics on social media and with all the must-have products on Chinese selling sites all the rage is very useful. When…
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Landfall
Word of the Day: Landfall In maritime lingo, landfall refers to the sighting or reaching of land after a voyage at sea. It’s a very significant moment. Can you imagine how people felt hundreds of years ago when they made landfall, completing a journey across the water that had probably taken months? Yeah, the anticipation…
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Social lubricant
WotD: Social lubricant When most English speakers hear the term social lubricant, they probably think of alcohol. A social lubricant eases social interaction, like grease for the gears of human connection. Alcohol helps to lower inhibitions and make people more open to conversation; however, a social lubricant can be a cup of coffee that sparks…
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Sphere of influence
WotD: Sphere of influence Earlier this year, I created a lesson about English as the lingua franca and if that may change. The term sphere of influence came up, and now is as good a time as any to cover that here. A sphere of influence is a geographical area over which a country or…
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Time is money
Idiom: Time is money The adage, time is money, has been around for as long as we have had money, and its meaning still holds true today. Time is the most valuable thing that we have. We should make the most of our time and ensure it not be wasted. Time is money is a…
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Well-oiled
Word of the Day: Well-oiled The term well-oiled has its roots in the practice of regularly lubricating machines with oil to keep them running smoothly. This term, often associated with heavy industrial machinery, has now become frequently used in daily life to describe anything that operates effectively and efficiently. Whether it’s a well-oiled machine, a…
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