Tag: go off on a tangent
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Beside the point
Phrase: Beside the point Definition of Beside the Point The phrase beside the point means that something is not relevant or connected to the main topic being discussed. If an idea, comment, or fact is beside the point, it does not help answer the main question or solve the main problem. How to Use Beside the Point in…
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On the edge of your seat
Phrase: On the edge of your seat Have you ever watched a movie or read a story that was so exciting you couldn’t look away? If so, you were probably on the edge of your seat. The books and the movies for The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones were like that for me. To be on the edge…
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Work up
Word of the Day: Work up I’m introducing a quite versatile phrasal verb this time – work up. It has a few different meanings. Generally, it means to develop or build up something, whether it’s energy, emotions, or even a physical condition. One common usage of work up is when referring to emotions. For example,…
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Bang for your buck
Idiom: Bang for your buck Not many regular people earning an average wage can afford to spend money like water anymore. We’re all looking to get the best bang for the buck. Simply put, this means we want to get the best value for our money. Now, you may be wondering why is a dollar, a US dollar,…
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Tread lightly
WotD: Tread lightly While some people have acquired the delicate art and ability to tread lightly, others value audacity and boldness. They believe in saying what’s on their mind no matter the consequences or who will be hurt by their thoughts and opinions. To tread lightly means to act carefully and behave so as not to upset or…
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Munchies
Word of the Day: Munchies When you’re feeling a little peckish and need a little snack, you, my friend, have the munchies. I’ll take another trip down memory lane now, and we’ll go back to Canada in the 1980s. Back then, Hostess was the most prominent brand of potato chips in Canada. There were many flavours. The ones…
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Elephant in the room
Idiom: The elephant in the room We need to discuss the elephant in the room. Before we do, though, I have a request. I want you to visit the zoo and check out the elephant exhibit. It’s probably been a while since you did that, but do it. Get as close as you safely can and…
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Hot off the press
Idiom: Hot off the press Whenever a new post is published here at ArtisanEnglish.jp, I send a notice. The notice lets everyone who applied to receive them know that a new post is available hot off the press. That is your idiom for the day, folks – hot off the press. Anyone who knows me knows that…
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Freeloader
WotD: Freeloader Freeloaders are a roommate’s worst nightmare. Believe me. There’s nothing worse than someone who drinks your alcohol, watches your TV, eats your food, uses your toilet paper, and never cleans up, contributes to the grocery bill, or replaces anything. In a nutshell, a freeloader is a person who uses and abuses your hospitality without any thought…
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Segway
Word of the Day: Segway I would suppose that most people know that a Segway is a battery-powered, personal vehicle. However, have you ever heard the word used with a different meaning? Unofficially, the word Segway can be used when someone wants to change the direction of a conversation. Quite often, a person will go…
