You’re barking up the wrong tree! (Dog idioms, Part 2)

On August 26, 2026July 16, 2026 By Kate WoodfordIn Idioms, the English language6 Comments

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by Kate Woodford

Last month, I published a post on idioms connected with man’s best friend (=the dog). When I researched the piece, I found that there were more frequent and useful canine idioms than I was expecting, so here is a second post on the subject. As well as idioms containing the word ‘dog’, I have included a few that feature dog-related vocabulary. I hope you learn a phrase or two from it! Continue reading “You’re barking up the wrong tree! (Dog idioms, Part 2)” →

Fanning the flames: idiomatic language connected to fire

On August 19, 2026September 1, 2026 By Liz WalterIn Idioms, the English language13 Comments

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by Liz Walter

My last post focused on words connected to fire and burning. Many of these words and phrases are also used in metaphorical or idiomatic ways, and today’s post discusses this aspect of them. Continue reading “Fanning the flames: idiomatic language connected to fire” →

There’s life in the old dog yet! (Dog idioms, part 1)

On August 12, 2026July 14, 2026 By Kate WoodfordIn Idioms, the English language17 Comments

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by Kate Woodford

The dog is sometimes referred to in English as man’s best friend, reflecting our close relationship with this remarkable animal. In the past, we used dogs to protect ourselves against predators. Nowadays, they perform all manner of roles for us, including herding farm animals, assisting in police work, and helping people with disabilities. And of course, many of us keep dogs as companions. It’s no surprise, then, that the word ‘dog’ features in a great many English idioms, (though it seems rather unfair that so many of these phrases have negative meanings!) This post and my next look at some of the most frequent and useful dog idioms. Continue reading “There’s life in the old dog yet! (Dog idioms, part 1)” →

Hitting the nail on the head: idioms with ‘hit’

On July 22, 2026July 8, 2026 By Liz WalterIn Idioms, the English language11 Comments

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by Liz Walter

The simple verb hit forms part of a surprisingly large number of idioms with very varied meanings. Today’s post looks at some of the most useful of these. Continue reading “Hitting the nail on the head: idioms with ‘hit’” →

Come on, spill the tea! (Words for ‘gossip’)

On July 1, 2026June 29, 2026 By Kate WoodfordIn Idioms, Synonyms, the English language, Vocabulary12 Comments

by Kate Woodford

Do you know the new-ish idiom in the title of this post? For anyone who hasn’t heard this phrase (which is suddenly everywhere), if you spill the tea, you talk about someone else’s private life, sometimes in a way that is unkind. It’s basically another way of saying ‘gossip’. This post, as you might have guessed, looks at the language of gossip and as usual, includes both single words and phrases. Continue reading “Come on, spill the tea! (Words for ‘gossip’)” →

It’s a pack of lies!: things we say when we don’t believe someone

On June 24, 2026May 18, 2026 By Liz WalterIn Conversation, Idioms, the English language14 Comments

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by Liz Walter

We often find ourselves in situations where we don’t believe something we are being told. This post looks at some of the phrases we can use when this happens, depending on factors such as how strongly we feel about it, or whether we think someone intended to lie or not. Continue reading “It’s a pack of lies!: things we say when we don’t believe someone” →

Reuniting and reminiscing: talking about meeting old friends

On May 27, 2026June 1, 2026 By Liz WalterIn Idioms, Phrasal verbs, Synonyms, the English language7 Comments

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by Liz Walter

Back in the 1990s, a social networking site called Friends Reunited enabled people to find old friends and communicate with them again. It was immensely popular but eventually closed down, unable to compete with platforms such as Facebook. I was reminded of it as I recently waited to meet someone I hadn’t seen for a long time myself, and I started to consider the language we use in these situations. Continue reading “Reuniting and reminiscing: talking about meeting old friends” →

Champing at the bit (Horse-related idioms)

On May 6, 2026April 13, 2026 By Kate WoodfordIn Idioms, the English language23 Comments

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by Kate Woodford

As I was writing last month’s post on ‘horse’ idioms, it occurred to me that there are a number of interesting English idioms that relate to horses while not containing the word ‘horse’ itself. I thought I’d share the most frequent of these with you in another horse-themed post. Continue reading “Champing at the bit (Horse-related idioms)” →

It’s a dirty business: the metaphorical use of ‘dirty’

On April 29, 2026April 1, 2026 By Liz WalterIn Idioms, the English language, Vocabulary8 Comments

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by Liz Walter

I recently watched a fascinating and shocking TV documentary called ‘Dirty Business’. The subject was the terrible state of the UK’s rivers and seas, and the title has a double meaning. On the one hand, it refers to literal dirt in the water and on the other to apparently unethical practices from both water companies and the UK Environment Agency which should be protecting our water quality. In this post I take a closer look at the way ‘dirty’ is used metaphorically and the words and phrases we often use with it. Continue reading “It’s a dirty business: the metaphorical use of ‘dirty’” →

Wild horses and gift horses (Idioms with the word ‘horse’)

On April 22, 2026April 13, 2026 By Kate WoodfordIn Idioms, the English language31 Comments

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by Kate Woodford

Idioms featuring the word ‘horse’ or ‘horses’ are common in English, and this is no great surprise. Humans have always had a close relationship with this beautiful animal. For centuries, horses were our main means of transport. We also used them in farming, war, and industry. More recently, of course, we’ve ridden horses, both for leisure and in the sport of horse racing. Today, I’m looking at some of the most frequent and useful horse idioms. Continue reading “Wild horses and gift horses (Idioms with the word ‘horse’)” →