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

Q. Malaphor? Guilty. That is: mistakenly jumbling two folk sayings, or idioms. The result? Undeniable nonsense meets knowing nods. What are some oft heard malaphors? . A. The malaphor: ‘Slipped through the radar’ Its broken parts: ‘Slipped through the cracks’ + ‘Under the radar’ • The malaphor: ‘I stuck my

Q. Fictional Eloises are not here to dot your i’s and cross your t’s. There is young Eloise of the Plaza – ‘I am a nuisance in the lobby. Mr. Salomone said so. He is the Manager.’ Add eleven years and we have Eloise Bridgerton – ‘If I’m forced to

Q. Who knew there were so many words for cloak-like overgarments. What are some lesser-known or historic cloak words? . A. Abolla A thick, woollen cloak worn in Ancient Rome. Artois A loose, long cloak favoured by European women in the 18th Century. Capuchin A cloak with a hood, traditionally

Q. Some animal species seem like they wouldn’t give much thought to the collective nouns we silly humans assign them. “A bloat of hippopotamuses?  Stand there for a minute.” 🦛🦛🦛 Birds seem like they would care. What are some collective nouns for birds, and how do we think they would

Q. The cleverest of fruit can, with the slightest of tweaks, serve double duty in explaining our moods. What are some common English idioms – current and past – built around fruit? . A. Pleasant Enough Apple of your eye Now this is a person who makes you proud; tops