Tag Archives: vocabulary
English Idioms for the Spring Posted by Gary Locke on Mar 25, 2021
Spring has sprung, as we say in English. We have been saying for weeks that spring is just around the corner. And now the astronomical spring, also known as the Vernal equinox, when the sun crossed the celestial equator going north. For those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, this was the Autumnal equinox, and…
Talking About Age in English Posted by Gary Locke on Dec 3, 2020
I have a birthday coming up soon, and it’s a big one. You know, one of those birthdays where you get lots of mail trying to sell you things you thought were just for old people. How did that happen? Words and Phrases for Old Age I am what is known as a baby boomer…
Neologisms, 2020 Edition Posted by Gary Locke on Nov 25, 2020
As we near the end of another year, dictionaries and language nerds seek out the words that have entered our lexicology – the part of linguistics that studies the formation of words. These are neologisms, words that have recently entered our language but are only just beginning to be accepted as part of our daily…
English Words in the News: Election Edition Posted by Gary Locke on Oct 22, 2020
Americans right now are thinking about the national election on November 3rd, and probably more than they would like to admit. Because of COVID, many of us aren’t leaving home, so we have little choice but to pay attention to the races in our states and across the country. Television ads and news programs all…
Writing the Date in American English Posted by Gary Locke on Sep 17, 2020
One of the things that distinguish the United States from almost every other country is also one of the most basic. We write the date differently. In the U.S., the date is written mm/dd/yyyy, or sometimes mm/dd/yy. For most of the world, this is backward (or, more accurately, sideways.) Why we do this has been…
Setting the Dinner Table Posted by Gary Locke on Aug 13, 2020
One of the things that I miss the most during the pandemic is dinner with friends. There are few things in life that I enjoy more than a formal or semi-formal dinner party. Spending a long afternoon or evening seated among friends, leisurely eating a delicious meal, sipping wine, and talking about whatever is on…
Big Posted by Gary Locke on Jul 30, 2020
I was watching a news program the other night, on a very respected network, and heard the host describe something as humongous. While I knew what she meant, I wondered if everyone watching the show would understand. What’s more, I was a bit startled at her choice of adjective, since I’ve always considered the word…