Mind your language
Carnage
‘This carnage stops here,’ declared the headline in the Daily Telegraph, quoting President Donald Trump’s inauguration speech. My husband tried…
Carillion
‘Look, darling, a spelling mistake,’ said my husband, looking out of the window, as he had been for minutes, like…
Carillion
‘Look, darling, a spelling mistake,’ said my husband, looking out of the window, as he had been for minutes, like…
Nativism
The title of America’s first woman bishop was claimed in 1918 by Bishop Alma White, leader of the Pillar of…
Nativism
The title of America’s first woman bishop was claimed in 1918 by Bishop Alma White, leader of the Pillar of…
Americanisms
Here are eight invasive Americanisms to continue annoying us in 2017. Running for office. Liz Kendall was ‘running for the…
Americanisms
Here are eight invasive Americanisms to continue annoying us in 2017. Running for office. Liz Kendall was ‘running for the…
Uh-oh
Here are the first 50 words in the order that they were learnt by a child called Will: 1 uh-oh;…
Uh-oh
Here are the first 50 words in the order that they were learnt by a child called Will: 1 uh-oh;…
Yeah
My husband has an irritating habit of holding his hymn book open at the right page but obviously not referring…
Yeah
My husband has an irritating habit of holding his hymn book open at the right page but obviously not referring…
They
‘When I asked the bank,’ said my husband, ‘they were no help at all.’ My attention was distracted from his…
They
‘When I asked the bank,’ said my husband, ‘they were no help at all.’ My attention was distracted from his…
Coulrophobia
There’s something suspicious about the name for a fear of clowns which was on the shortlist of words of the…
Coulrophobia
There’s something suspicious about the name for a fear of clowns which was on the shortlist of words of the…
Cortana
At the Queen’s Coronation, the Duke of Northumberland carried the Sword of Mercy called Cortana. I mention this for three…
Cortana
At the Queen’s Coronation, the Duke of Northumberland carried the Sword of Mercy called Cortana. I mention this for three…
Hygge
‘If there’s one thing I can’t stand,’ said my husband, ‘it’s scented candles.’ Now, we have never knowingly harboured a…
Hygge
‘If there’s one thing I can’t stand,’ said my husband, ‘it’s scented candles.’ Now, we have never knowingly harboured a…
Post-Brexit
Staring at a brown envelope, my husband said: ‘I’ll deal with that post-breakfast,’ and then laughed as though he had…
Post-Brexit
Staring at a brown envelope, my husband said: ‘I’ll deal with that post-breakfast,’ and then laughed as though he had…
Straik
I’m very glad I followed a friend’s recommendation to read The Bird of Dawning by John Masefield, an author neglected…
Straik
I’m very glad I followed a friend’s recommendation to read The Bird of Dawning by John Masefield, an author neglected…
The origins of Marmite and Bovril
‘How can Bovril be suitable for vegetarians?’ asked my husband. ‘Bo- comes from bos, Latin for an ox.’ He was…
Marmite vs Bovril
‘How can Bovril be suitable for vegetarians?’ asked my husband. ‘Bo- comes from bos, Latin for an ox.’ He was…
