Q. You got this. You’re feeling determined. Onward! How to illustrate your resolve? . A. There are plenty of idioms – common and historic – available to you. You’re so determined you’re going to… . • Cross the rubicon • Fight tooth and nail • Get your game face on

Q. Pugs have played an outsized role in fiction. Jane Austen brings us Mansfield Park’s Lady Bertram who would rather spend time with her pug than her children. ‘To the education of her daughters Lady Bertram paid not the smallest attention. She had not time for such cares. She was

Q. This particular idiom refers to people who are perennially cranky, irritable, quick to go off. Why? Because they feel they have been ill-treated in the past. Where does this phrase originate? . A. Chips on shoulders stem from a call to fighting in the 19th Century US. A person

Q. We know that we’re not supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth. We may invoke this gifted horse etiquette a lot. But what does the phrase mean, and where does it originate? . A. First things first: the ‘gift horse’ idiom warns us not to be ungrateful

Q. What are some little-known or old-fashioned names for everyday things or actions? . A. Here’s a sampling. As usual, some of these words have alternate meanings … . . Agraffe A hook and loop fastening, like on a bra. Or on armor Book-bosomed Walking around with a book all

Q. Got a crush. Madly in love. What are some lesser used or archaic words related to that lovin’ feeling? . A. Amorist A person who loves love, or writes about love Assot To infatuate Bathos Mawkish. A touch too tender Befool To infatuate. Also to fool Besotted Full-on smitten.

Q. Is there a bright light amidst the darkness? Is there treasure to be unearthed as we slog through trouble? Such is the hope as we invoke the common idiom: ‘every cloud has a silver lining.’ What is the origin of this comforting quip? . A. It’s a phrase that

Q. Pass over pink at your own peril. What are some words or phrases – current and old-fashioned-  that are inspired by the colour pink? . A. Carnation In olde times this described gradations of colour in flesh 👀 Got A Pink Slip Just got fired Have A Pink Fit

Q. Ok, ok, Duo. Voy a practicar mi espańol. No need to get all side-eye attitudinal. In the interim, you’ve sent me 20 different ways of saying the word ‘ouch’ in a variety of languages. I’m not sure what you have planned, but how does one ‘ow’ cross-culturally? . A.

Q. They are the best of friends. There for you when things are going annoyingly well. There for you when things have slid into the muckiest of bogs. Now, they’re coming for dinner. Let’s fancify all the best flowers, foods, throw pillows, drinks. For them, we’ll pull out all of