@imcmillan.bsky.social Morning, Ian. Thank you so much for your wonderful endorsement. It has pride of place. 😁 oneworld-publications.com/work/the-met...

A single crow caws Or do two crows each take turns? Yes. Of caws they do.

If I want a selection of snacks to sound like fragments of dried scab that have flaked off as I scratched it, then and only then will I describe them as "picky bits"

I offer a substack to note the latest update (#39) of GDoS. The photo is the late Gary Simes, whose unfinished dictionary was placed at my disposal. Over a year on, I have reached its end. From there and elsewhere I offer the usual lists of new terms and predates. open.substack.com/pub/jonathon...

I’ve grown a muppet!

People shouldn’t keep peeves as pets.

One word: Kindness. 🐶💦🚰💖 An appeal - Be kind to fellow humans, be kinder to our animal friends (because they are more vulnerable contextually). #kindness #dog #animals

How Writers Extend Standard Metaphors; and how Val McDermid does How artists extend or elaborate conventional metaphors was brought home to me forcefully and repeatedly while reading a detective novel Broken Ground[ii] by Val McDermid....

John D. Rockefeller Jr. thought it would be "flamboyant and distasteful" to put his name on the midtown property. He was overruled. fritinancy.substack.com/p/how-rockef...

Exploring the lexical delights of words with the -arian suffix The author explores the suffix "-arian" in words, using the Oxford English Dictionary as a rich resource. Notable terms include "flexitarian," "Trustafarian," and "antidisestablishmentarian," highlighting their meanings and historical…

The Charms of Onomatopoeia and Frivolity in English This post explores the links between playful language, onomatopoeia, and the triviality associated with knick-knacks and bric-a-brac. It discusses… https://jeremybutterfield.com/2026/05/13/the-charms-of-onomatopoeia-and-frivolity-in-english/

sophism / sophomore / sophomoric #etymology #wordorigins #language

da leggere: parole inglesi formate con l’elemento suffissale –onym, che solitamente hanno un corrispondente italiano se si tratta di composti neoclassici (il primo elemento è una parola dal greco o dal latino). L’inglese però consente anche combinazioni informali, spiritose, occasionali...

Understanding Ablaut Reduplication in English King Kong, jim-jams and the Kit Cat Club all three illustrate a mostly unwritten rule of English about the order in which we put vowel sounds when we repeat consonant elements to make rhyming words or phrases. That rule is known as the rule of ablaut…

A Deep Dive into Naming Conventions: -onym Examples The text explores various types of -onyms, discussing their meanings and origins. It covers acronyms, pseudonyms, synonyms, antonyms, eponyms, toponyms, and more, explaining their significance in language and usage. The piece highlights the…

Dear old English, always ready to create a portmanteau that's a witty pun.

Looking forward to seeing Private Lives tonight at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. Noel Coward’s beautifully rhythmic language!

How to Handle Loanwords in English: A Focus on Schadenfreude The discussion revolves around the use of the loanword "schadenfreude" in English. Although it originates from German, it has become naturalized in English. Opinions vary on capitalization and formatting, with most editors favoring…

Do you "defuse" tension or "diffuse" it? Is only one "correct" or are both?

#hyperbole Nothing in this world equals, let alone surpasses, the hyperbole of a fired-up journalist: 'Whatever Donald Trump touches, he destroys. It can be people, institutions or ideas - the result is always the same. His empty smile beckons them in, but his handshake has the taint of death.'

Understanding Metaphors: The Case of the Carthorse, or Carthorses for Courses Nevertheless, journalists routinely use carthorse used to describe different classes of people, especially sportspeople. Those people are mainly men, but there are exceptions.

Celebrating St David’s Day: Traditions and Significance St David's Day, celebrated on March 1, honours Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, who lived in the 6th century. Though not a public holiday, many Welsh people don traditional costumes, eat traditional foods like cawl and bara brith, and…

Carthorses for courses – interesting uses of a metaphor for clumsiness, ungainliness, etc. Nevertheless, journalists routinely use carthorse used to describe different classes of people, especially sportspeople. Those people are mainly men, but there are exceptions.

Ain't that the truth?

Are You a Useful Idiot? Exploring the Concept The term "useful idiot" refers to individuals who, often unwittingly, support political ideologies they do not fully comprehend, thereby serving as tools for manipulation. Originating in the context of communism, it describes citizens of non-communist…

Early stroll. Gatherings of enigmatic shadows. Ghost miners work beneath my feet. I have a walk-on part in the morning. This is where Keith Barlow dropped that bottle, decades ago. In the distance a dog sends a voice note.

Joy of joys! A new eggcorn.

#humour Me in response to sth my partner did: 'It's a Pavlovian reaction.' He: 'I haven't eaten Pavlova. It was trifle.'

Finishing the year on a high - I've signed a contract with Cambridge University Press for my book: Metal and Literary Production in Early Modern England: Labour, Value, Violence. Transforming my PhD into a book whilst on a series of lectureships wasn't easy, so I WILL be celebrating every milestone

The Concept of Dictatorship Through History The Age of Dictatorship refers to the mid-twentieth century, marked by despotic leaders like Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin. The term originates from Old English, linked to Roman history, where "dictator" denoted a temporary, absolute ruler. Today, the…

I guess I should share this, as I'm in it. On the other hand, if you read it and don't think you'll be interested in the conversations with any of the other lexicographers in the book, then you're that much less likely to buy the book. But what the hell. lithub.com/how-to-build...

Bookes are like cheese!!! Yes!!!!

Gunboat Diplomacy: A matter of definition A lexicographer's look at the history and definitions of 'gunboat diplomacy'.

Understanding the Difference: Disinterested vs Uninterested The debate between "uninterested" and "disinterested" has a long history rooted in semantics. Traditionally, some people insist, "disinterested" meant "impartial" while "uninterested" referred to being "indifferent." However, overlapping…

Complacent vs Complaisant: Understanding the Difference The distinction between "complacent" and "complaisant" is often blurred, leading to misuse. Complacent means smug or self-satisfied, while complaisant refers to a desire to please. Despite clear definitions, confusion persists, influenced by…

Happy Advent (and Happy Hanukkah when it comes!)

The Fascinating World of Oodle Words – Part II The discussion explores verbs and nouns containing the *oodle* string, highlighting three snuggling verbs: croodle, canoodle, and snoodle. It delves… https://jeremybutterfield.wpcomstaging.com/2025/11/05/the-fascinating-world-of-oodle-words-part-ii/

The fascinating world of ‘oodle’ words The exploration of the letter sequence -oodle- reveals a range of verbs suggesting leisurely or aimless actions: to poodle, soodle, noodle, moodle, flap-doodle, and doodle. There's a notable connection between others of these words and concepts of sound,…

The Etymology of ‘A Gogo’: From French Roots to Pop Culture The author reflects on their infrequent posting, contemplating the phrase "a gogo," meaning "in abundance," which originated from French. They explore its usage and historical references, linking it to Parisian nightclubs and the famous…

A great conversation about dictionaries and dictionary making.

As @emckean.bsky.social said to @grammargirl.bsky.social, they are "imitation," not "intelligence."

#english As far as is known, there's only one station in the UK devoted to phrasal verbs. And it's on one of the country's most scenic routes.

Lend your support to entrepreneurs in low-income countries through @lendwithcare.bsky.social Make your first loan for free with this link! lendwithcare.org/referral/HHO...

The cultural significance of ladybirds across languages I’m not sure when I first knew about ladybirds – perhaps as a child of five or six. At that age you’re closer to the ground and so much closer to small creeping things than you’ll ever be again, able to observe them with that goggle-eyed…

What’s the opposite of a placebo? You’ll probably have come across placebo in one or other of its two modern meanings; a) ‘a medicine or procedure prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient rather than for any physiological effect’; or b) ‘a substance that has no therapeutic effect,…

Gazebos and Jane Austen – or not Which language do you think gazebo comes from? Perhaps Italian, because of it’s -o ending, like piano or casino or ghetto? Or maybe Spanish? Or even Arabic, a gazebo being a bit like a tent travellers on a caravanserai might pitch?

Another cod etymology bites the dust

If no one in onomastics has never written a paper called ‘Hoo, Wat, Wen, Wye, Howe’, I will be very disappointed.