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.

Microfinance from CARE International UK CARE International's microfinance lending initiative

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 curiosity born of novelty. The age when a lifelong passion for insects first fires up to forge you as an entomologist.

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, used as a control in testing new drugs’ (definitions taken from the Online Oxford Dictionary).

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?

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

Our cover this week.

😁 Very good!

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

Ganglion: Cartoon of two men talking to each other. Man on the left: Got the part as the eponymous hero in a new play, "The Ganglion". Man on the right: I bet you're a bundle of nerves

Ganglion

Tartan Day and the language of tartan - Collins Dictionary Language Blog Think Scotland, see tartan. From shortbread biscuit tins to carpets to the kilts of the Tartan Army, this pattern shouts … Continued

Wishing everyone a very merry #TartanDay.

slàinte mhath!

Here's what I wrote about the history and language of Tartan.

blog.collinsdictionary.com/language-lov...

Society of Authors protest at Meta's London HQ over 'theft' of books Yesterday, authors and publishing creatives gathered outside Meta's HQ at King's Cross in peaceful protest following revelations that pirated books have been used to train Meta’s LLM

👇
www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...

#bbctkc Are you ready for this week's word bingo? #english #cooking

I've got my affectionate word bingo ready for today's Kitchen Cabinet. #bbctkc. Do join in if you fancy.

An expert talks about ‘Words of the Year’ – what they are and what they’re not.

It's turning into/has turned into a contronym, a word with two opposed meanings. The example I quote in Fowler with the 'chill' meaning is from 2003, but I'm sure one could easily find earlier examples. Ngrams here I come.

Anyone?

From ye meowy olde England - Cats in Joseph Wright's English Dialect Dictionary (1898-1905): boar cat (tomcat), scattle cat (thieving mischievous cat), tibcat (female cat), to meowl (to cry like a cat) #dialectology #linguistics 🧪 #caturday

Anyone can become a narcissist if you just believe in yourself

A common sight in the centre of York, when the Ouse bursts its banks. This is a particularly high level.

It sounds emetic.

Don't do it when I come over.
@bossproofreader.bsky.social

Happy Birthday, President Zelenskyy.

I don't understand the question. Are you talking about a pronunciation?

Burns Night and Burns Suppers It’s popularly believed that Burns wrote this grace. He didn’t. It existed in the seventeenth century as ‘The Covenanters’ Grace’. Burns recited it at supper at the Earl of Selkirk’s – there’s still an earl of that title – in 1794, and at other times, so it became indelibly associated with Burns’ name.

Burns Night and Burns Suppers

It’s popularly believed that Burns wrote this grace. He didn’t. It existed in the seventeenth century as ‘The Covenanters’ Grace’. Burns recited it at supper at the Earl of Selkirk’s – there’s still an earl of that title – in 1794, and at other times, so it became…

1. He has stupendous taste.
2. It's possibly unique.
3. Be kind to yourself. It's almost 2025.