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Abbreviation vs Acronym
Word of the Day: Abbreviation vs Acronym We are going to do a little bit of grammar today. I’ll keep it short, I promise. Both abbreviations and acronyms are similar in that they are used to shorten something. PC for personal computer or VOD for video on demand are examples of abbreviations. On the other…
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On the brink
Phrase: On the brink On the brink is a common phrase that people use when something is about to happen. Quite commonly, it’s used when talking about a harmful or undesirable situation such as, ‘Europe is on the brink of war,’ ‘The economy is on the brink of economic disaster,’ or ‘The company is on the brink of a hostile takeover.’ In…
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Wedding registry
Word of the Day: Wedding registry I talked about the word spouse on July 14th, and I mentioned my wife yesterday; I also wrote about the idioms behind every great man, there is a great woman, and one’s better half, so keeping the topic on marriage, let me write about a wedding registry. In Japan,…
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Don’t shoot the messenger
Saying: Don’t shoot the messenger This saying is used to warn someone not to get angry with the person who gives them the bad news. If your best friend tells you that she saw your son smoking cigarettes in front of the convenience store, don’t shoot the messenger; you should not get mad at her. Don’t…
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Behind every great man there is a great woman
Saying: Behind every great man, there is a great woman The topic of today’s post is a well-known saying, and as far as I can ascertain, the origin is from a Texas newspaper. The saying behind every great man, there is a great woman, has been used since around the 1940s. The meaning is that…
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Abbreviation of the Day: PS
Abbreviation of the Day: PS PS is the abbreviation for postscript. A postscript, PS, is a short note added to a letter, email, etc. after you have signed your name. The postscript is usually introduced with the abbreviation PS. Hello Taro, I am attaching your feedback from our last lesson on July 12th @…
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Better half
Idiom: Better half OK, men, let’s talk about your better half. This little idiom is used to refer to a married man’s spouse, namely his wife. It is a little humorous, and many people will use it that way. This means that in a relationship, the woman is the more intelligent, better-looking, and general leader.…
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In a huff
Phrase: In a huff Has someone ever said something that offended you so much that you walked away from them? Have you ever been so angry with someone that you could not talk to them anymore, so you just left the situation? Well, if you have, then you have walked away in a huff. Exiting…
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Spouse
Word of the Day: Spouse If you are married, you have a spouse, and that person is probably your better half. Hopefully, you love that person, and they love you very much. If everything goes according to plan, you can be with them until the end of your life. Have you guessed what it means yet? It’s…
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Sour grapes
Idiom: Sour Grapes Sour grapes is a term used to describe how a person feels when they want something but can’t get it, so they say it’s not very good anyway. Think about a child who wants to have ice cream. Their father tells them that they can’t have any. The child gets angry, but…
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