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Pay it forward
Phrase: Pay it forward It’s the holiday season, and what better time of year than this one to pay it forward? This means that after we receive an act of kindness from someone, we should be kind to someone else. We’ve all benefited from someone else’s kindness at one point in our lives. By paying it…
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Spool
Word of the Day: Spool Most English learners in Japan know the words needle, thread and sewing machine, but not many know what a spool is. A spool is a tube-shaped thing that the thread is wrapped around. Sometimes, it is made of plastic, sometimes wood, and sometimes even cardboard. Japanese learn to sew in…
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It’s better to be safe than sorry
English Proverb: It’s better to be safe than sorry It’s better to be safe than sorry is the advice that wise people who have made mistakes in their lives will give you. You should always save some money for a rainy day, buy travel insurance and lock your car doors even when you are inside…
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Trimmings
Word of the Day: Trimmings Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, I can’t wait for Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Of course, I’ll have to cook Christmas dinner, but it’s just such a special dinner that I wait for it each year with bated breath. I get to cook a whole chicken (turkey is…
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Be there with bells on
English Idiom: Be there with bells on It’s the time of the year for parties. The thing to remember is when you go to a party at this time of year, be there with bells on. There are Christmas parties, End-of-year parties, New Year’s parties, and home parties. There are all kinds of parties. Now,…
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Caribou
Word of the Day: Caribou Canada has caribou, lots and lots of them. You may say, ‘So what?’ But before you do, remember that this is Christmas Eve, which means Santa Claus and eight tiny reindeer will soon be flying around the world. Caribou is another name for reindeer. Many people in Canada hunt caribou…
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With bated breath
Phrase: With bated breath Tonight’s the night! The big guy is coming down the chimney! All the little kiddies – and big kiddies, too – will be waiting for Santa with bated breath. If you wait with bated breath, you wait eagerly. You are so excited that you breathe heavily and try to control your…
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Mistletoe
Word of the Day: Mistletoe Mistletoe is a popular plant around the Christmas season. Many people use it, or a plastic version, to decorate their houses. It’s all a part of the Christmas tradition of using greenery to decorate our houses to symbolize life, even in the middle of winter. It’s a common tradition to…
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Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle
English Idiom: Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle It’s crucial not to get your tinsel in a tangle at this time of year. What I mean is don’t let the stress get to you. The holidays are fantastic and stressful all at the same time. Christmas is never perfect. Sometimes, the tree is a…
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Wreath
Word of the Day: Wreath Christmas wreaths are a standard decoration around the holidays. You’ll see them hanging on people’s doors or placed on their dining room table. The green symbolizes life, and the round shape symbolizes everlasting life. You may notice that some are placed on tables or other flat surfaces with four red…
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