Category: Vocabulary

picture of an old, worn teddy bear against a dark red background

On its last legs (Describing the condition of objects, Part 1)

On By Kate WoodfordIn Idioms, Synonyms, the English language, Vocabulary29 Comments

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picture of an old, worn teddy bear against a dark red background
Pete Noel / iStock / Getty Images Plus

by Kate Woodford

A friend recently told me that she needed a new sofa. Her current one, she said, ‘had seen better days’, meaning that it was clearly old and damaged. This nice idiom (‘have seen better days’) got me thinking about the many ways we describe the condition of objects, both good and bad. This post, in two parts and covering both single words and phrases, is the result of this. Continue reading “On its last legs (Describing the condition of objects, Part 1)” →

a man with his mouth open and eyebrows raised in a shocked expression, halfway through removing his glasses as he stares at something off-camera

Stunned and thunderstruck (Words for being surprised or shocked)

On By Kate WoodfordIn Synonyms, the English language, Vocabulary29 Comments

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a man with his mouth open and eyebrows raised in a shocked expression, halfway through removing his glasses as he stares at something off-camera
izusek / iStock / Getty Images Plus

by Kate Woodford

This post is for anyone who feels they use the words ‘surprised’ and ‘shocked’ too much and is looking for more interesting alternatives. It will include both single words and phrases. Continue reading “Stunned and thunderstruck (Words for being surprised or shocked)” →

a woman looking brave and determined as she prepares to do a difficult trick in a skate park

Plucking up courage: talking about being brave

On By Liz WalterIn Synonyms, the English language, Vocabulary19 Comments

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a woman looking brave and determined as she prepares to do a difficult trick in a skate park
HRAUN / E+ / GettyImages

by Liz Walter

Everyone has times when they have to do things that scare them, and there are lots of different ways to talk about this. Continue reading “Plucking up courage: talking about being brave” →

Close-up photograph of silver, crown-shaped confetti on a red, white and blue Union Flag

Pomp and pageantry: language for the coronation of King Charles III

On By Liz WalterIn the English language, Vocabulary11 Comments

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Close-up photograph of silver, crown-shaped confetti on a red, white and blue Union Flag
John Harper / Moment / GettyImages

by Liz Walter

On Saturday, 6 May, the UK will see its first coronation (ceremony to make someone king or queen) since 1953, when Queen Elizabeth began her extraordinarily long reign (the time she was queen). This post looks at some of the vocabulary connected with that event. Continue reading “Pomp and pageantry: language for the coronation of King Charles III” →

four seated men seen from the chest downwards - three are sitting formally and wearing plain black suits, and one is sitting casually with crossed legs and wearing a bright red suit

Out of the ordinary: ways of saying that something is unusual (2)

On By Kate WoodfordIn Idioms, the English language, Vocabulary24 Comments

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four seated men seen from the chest downwards - three are sitting formally and wearing plain black suits, and one is sitting casually with crossed legs and wearing a bright red suit
Peter Cade / Stone / Gettymages

by Kate Woodford

My last blog post looked at adjectives used to describe things that are unusual or in some way different. In today’s post, I focus on idioms and phrases in this area. Continue reading “Out of the ordinary: ways of saying that something is unusual (2)” →

three whole fish cooking in a frying pan set over a campfire

There’s bigger fish to fry: talking about things that are not important

On By Liz WalterIn the English language, Vocabulary17 Comments

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three whole fish cooking in a frying pan set over a campfire
Westend61 / GettyImages

by Liz Walter

I have recently written two posts on the topic of importance, so this one looks at the opposite: how to say that something isn’t important. Continue reading “There’s bigger fish to fry: talking about things that are not important” →

portrait of a textile artist wearing eccentric make-up and sequins and a large, brightly coloured headdress

Quirky and novel: ways of saying that something is unusual (1)

On By Kate WoodfordIn Synonyms, the English language, Vocabulary22 Comments

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portrait of a textile artist wearing eccentric make-up and sequins and a large, brightly coloured headdress
Trevor Willians/DigitalVision/GettyImages

by Kate Woodford

Today, I’m looking at the various words that we use to describe things that are unusual or in some way different. As usual, I’ll be looking at the subtle differences in meaning between this group of near-synonyms. Continue reading “Quirky and novel: ways of saying that something is unusual (1)” →

a boy and his father singing and dancing together in the kitchen while doing the washing up, pretending that a scrubbing brush and mop are a microphone and guitar

Making a song and dance about it: talking about importance (2)

On By Liz WalterIn the English language, Vocabulary13 Comments

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a boy and his father singing and dancing together in the kitchen while doing the washing up, pretending that a scrubbing brush and mop are a microphone and guitar
Marc Dufresne/iStock/Getty Images Plus

by Liz Walter

This is the second of two posts on importance and covers some more aspects of the topic.

I will start with things that are important because of their effect on someone or something else. Someone or something that has the power to affect things can be described as influential. Something that has a great effect on future events is momentous, or – even more emphatically – seismic: Continue reading “Making a song and dance about it: talking about importance (2)” →

Hospital emergency, medical staff pushing patient on gurney.

A matter of life and death: Talking about importance (1)

On By Liz WalterIn the English language, Vocabulary18 Comments

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Hospital emergency, medical staff pushing patient on gurney.
Science Photo Library/GettyImages

by Liz Walter

The word ‘important’ is extremely common and is sometimes overused by learners of English. There are many possible alternatives – so many in fact, that this is the first of two posts on the topic. This one looks at general words, words meaning ‘extremely important’ and words that carry the sense of something being necessary. Continue reading “A matter of life and death: Talking about importance (1)” →

two white mice hiding inside a hole - a white cat is visible outside

Look out! Talking about being careful.

On By Liz WalterIn the English language, Vocabulary12 Comments
two white mice hiding inside a hole - a white cat is visible outside
Michael Blann/The Image Bank/GettyImages

by Liz Walter

It is natural to want our family and friends to be safe, and this post looks at words connected with being careful – both for advising people to be careful and for describing careful people and actions. Continue reading “Look out! Talking about being careful.” →