-
On the hook
Idiom: On the hook (for something) I recently created a new discussion topic about the Subscription Economy, which has left many people finding themselves on the hook for monthly or yearly payments long after they have forgotten about them. When you are on the hook for something, you either owe money or are responsible for…
-
In hot water
Idiom: In hot water When was the last time you’ve been in hot water? Here in Japan, if you are unfamiliar with the idiom, this may be a confusing question. No, I don’t mean, when was the last time you had a bath or visited a hot spring? When someone is in hot water, they…
-
Can’t see the forest for the trees
Expression: Can’t see the forest for the trees Just as there are all kinds of people in the world, there are all kinds of students. Some students find it difficult to read online; they have to print everything out on paper. Others never pay attention to grammar but can speak very fluently, albeit with many…
-
In the grips of
Phrase: In the grip(s) of something At times I think how nice it would be to be a kid again. Times like these, when we are in the grips of a pandemic, make me feel that way. There would be no decisions to make, self-imposed deadlines to meet or challenges to overcome. Someone else would…
-
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Adage: Rome wasn’t built in a day So, I heard you are on a self-improvement mission. Join the club and let me remind you, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Today’s adage means that if you want to create something great, it’s going to take some time. You will need determination and perseverance. It may…
-
Take the cake
Phrase: Take the cake Japan has had a plethora of PMs (Prime Ministers) while I’ve lived here, but Suga takes the cake. So, what do I mean by that? Of course, explaining the phrase is the point of this little post, and I hoped you would not know what it means. Take the cake is…
-
Famished
Word of the Day: Famished Have you ever felt hungry? I suppose that is a stupid question, so let me put it in perspective. Have you ever been so hungry you could eat a horse, hooves and all? If you have, then you, my friend, have been famished. If you look up the word famished…
-
Plug and Play
WotD: Plug and Play We are living in a plug-and-play world. Now, you may be wondering what the heck that means. When we describe something as plug and play, we mean we can plug one device into another, and it works immediately without us, the users, having to reconfigure or adjust it in any way.…
-
Lifesaver
Word of the Day: Lifesaver If you are a lucky person, in your moment of need, a lifesaver will come along. I know it sounds very dramatic. I wanted it to be so. If we are talking about physical lifesavers, they are the round floating devices on boats and piers easily found and thrown to…
-
The end justifies the means
Phrase: The end justifies the means It’s more of a philosophical question than anything else, but I’ll ask it anyway. Do you believe the end justifies the means? To clarify the question, do you think it is OK to use any means, even bad ones, to achieve a goal as long as that goal is…
Got any book recommendations?