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Results 1 to 25 of 210 (page 1 of 9)

Expressions using an animal name

An English-language quiz on expressions using an animal name. Humans have been sharing their planet with animals for millennia. Small wonder that animal names have crept into a great many of our idiomatic expressions!In the quiz below, choose the right animal name to complete the expression.1. Jonathan usually teaches children in Grade 4, so he felt like a out of water when he was asked to take over a kindergarten class.clamfishwhale2. I've barely eaten all day. I'm as hungry as a .bearhorseboth are correct3. With all her activities, Manuela is as busy as a .beehornetwasp4. Some of the things my boss said really got my .goatramsheep5. Don't bring up the past. Let sleeping lie.catsdogslions6. Carla was impressed with the change last night in her boyfriend's behaviour, but one doesn't make a summer.cardinalrobinswallow7. The promotions team received the share of the funding.lion'stiger'sboth a) and b)8. I never found the office; the person who gave me directions sent me on a wild chase. duckgooseloon9. The young mother watched her children like .a falcona hawkan eagle10. Jaxson is such a gentle little boy. He wouldn't hurt .a flya mosquitoa grasshopper  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Bilingual expressions: Let’s take a trip!

An English-language quiz in which the user must match a French expression to its English equivalent For many people, travel is one of life’s greatest pleasures. When we leave home and explore the world, we discover amazing places, meet memorable people … and even learn new expressions!In the short story below, choose the correct translation of the French travel expression in parentheses.1. Valerie and Thomas (ont pris la route) late at night.took a roadhit the roadhad an accident2. They had to take a (vol de nuit) to Asia.red-eye flightlong-haul flighthigh-speed plane3. Once they reach their destination, they have no immediate plans: they’ll just (vadrouiller) for a few days.mope aboutwander aroundgo to one place4. It’s not a bad idea, since (le décalage horaire) is hard to deal with.jet laga delayed flighta long-haul flight5. So Thomas and Valerie spend a few days (à rayonner) around the city.bikingshoppingtouring6. But what Valerie likes most of all is (s’aventurer hors des sentiers battus).venturing off into the unknowngoing off the beaten pathgoing off on her own7. One thing’s for sure: both friends would like to (loger chez l’habitant) for at least a few days.go campingsleep at a hosteldo a homestay8. What’s important for them is meeting and connecting with (gens du pays).the localscountry peoplepeople from their own country9. After two weeks of travel, Valerie is starting to (avoir le mal du pays).have digestive issuesget antsyfeel homesick10. It’s now time for the two friends to go back home … until they (ont l’envie de voyager) again!take a triptake the road less travelledget itchy feet  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Common errors: “Mother” and its variants

An English quiz in which the user must choose the correct spelling of words and expressions containing the words “mother” and “mom.” The concept of motherhood has made its way into many of our words and expressions. To test your knowledge of expressions relating to the words mother or mom, try our quiz!1. I had no idea that our grew up in the same town, did you?mother-in-lawsmothers-in-lawmother-in-law's2. Whenever I feel stressed, I spend some time with .Mother Naturemother NatureMother nature3. Fire it up, Arthur! Let's take the back to the !mothership; mother landmother ship; mother landmother ship; motherland4. When writing a heartfelt card addressed to your mother, should you capitalize the words "mother" and "mom"?Yes, the words "mother" and "mom" should always be capitalized.Yes, you should, because you are addressing her directly.No, there's never a need to capitalize the words "mother" and "mom."5. If you want to say that something is important or essential to you, you might say it's "like milk to me."mother'smothers'mothers6. What is the correct spelling of the noun that means "a rich or important source of something"?motherloadmother loadmother lode7. Yesterday, I spent time visiting my and my .great-grandmother; stepmothergreat grandmother; step mothergreatgrandmother; step-mother8. Rosa gave up her job to take care of her son Daniel. She is a mom.stay at homestay-at-homestay—at—home9. Which of the following spellings is the British equivalent for "mom"?ma'ammemmam10. What is the correct wording of the proverb that means that inventions are likely to be created in response to a need?Motherhood is the necessity of invention.Invention is the mother of necessity.Necessity is the mother of invention.  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Warning: Severe weather ahead

An English-language quiz in which the user must choose the correct term to fit each weather-related expression Floods, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes and other weather events have a huge impact on those who experience them. So it’s no surprise that they also influence our language! Many meteorological terms are used in figurative expressions.Test your knowledge of English idioms by choosing the word that is most commonly used in the expressions below.1. The passenger unleashed of abuse when the flight attendant asked him to change seats.a tempesta typhoona torrent2. The children tore through the house like .a thunderstorma tornadoan earthquake3. The crowd broke out into applause.thunderouscataclysmictorrential4. At the announcement, a of emotion swept through the crowd.tidal wavelightning boltwildfire5. As a child, Jean-Yves had a nature.torrentialthunderoustempestuous6. After the report was leaked, the office received a of emails.hurricanedelugemonsoon7. The actor has a temperament.volcaniccycloniccataclysmic8. The boxer felled her opponent in a of blows.blizzardhailwhirlwind9. The audience was when the mayor announced his resignation.weathereddelugedthunderstruck10. Amira burst into a of tears.floodtempesttyphoon  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Sunny expressions

An English-language quiz on expressions with the word sun or light. With spring around the corner, we thought we’d put a little sunshine in your day! Choose the right word to fill in the blanks in the bright and sunny sayings below.1. Make while the sun shines.haymoneyfriendships2. When Jacob, normally the weakest player, scored the winning goal, he enjoyed his brief in the sun.spacemomentsecond3. Don’t hide your light under a .sievehaystackbushel4. Never let the sun go down on your .angerfearcuriosity5. Because he is an early riser, Kevin likes to go to with the sun.workbedmarket6. Despite all the stress at work, Amanda is still a of sunshine, with her smile and positive energy.gleamglimmerray7. Later, in the light of day, Gwen realized she had made a foolish decision.brightcolddazzling8. Now that he has a better-paying job that he really enjoys, Frank seems to have found his in the sun.spacebaseplace9. As she began the last stage of her research, Sarah could finally see the light at the end of the .journeytunnelchallenge  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Chilly expressions: Don’t get cold feet!

An English-language quiz in which the user must match an English expression to its French equivalent Both English and French have lots of expressions related to cold and winter. Think you can keep your cool as you match the English expressions to the correct French expressions below?1. send shivers down someone’s spineêtre glacé jusqu’aux osjeter un froiddonner froid dans le dos2. break the icesauter sur la glacecreuser la glacebriser la glace3. keep one’s coolgarder la tête froideprendre froidse mettre au frais4. cold snapfroid comme le marbrecoupe-froidvague de froid5. be bitterly cold avoir un cœur de glaceêtre en glacefaire un froid de canard6. be a cool customerfaire ses fraisrester de glaces’habiller pour l’hiver7. the dead of winterau cœur de l’hiverau pays de l’hiverau cours de l’hiver8. get a chilly receptionavoir de la neige dans sa télévisioncueillir quelqu’un à froidrecevoir un accueil glacial9. be frozen stiffêtre raide de froidgarder la tête froideprendre froid10. the winter of lifel’hiver de la viel’heure d’hiverla saison froide  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

There’s no fool like an April Fool 2

A quiz on proverbs in which the user has to find the missing words. Pranks abound on April Fool’s Day—and we’ve played a prank on you with our latest quiz! Each question below contains a well-known proverb in which some of the words have been replaced with the word prank. See if you can prove that you’re nobody’s April fool by choosing the right series of missing words for each proverb!1. [Prank] dogs seldom [prank].Barking; biteGrowling; attackLoyal; wander2. [Prank] is in the [prank] of the beholder.Love; heartBeauty; eyeHappiness; smile3. The [prank] wheel gets the [prank].loose; screwssqueaky; greasepunctured; patch4. A chain is only as [prank] as its [prank] link.long; farthestcomplex; simpleststrong; weakest5. Keep your [prank] close and your [prank] closer.competitors; customersfamily; friendsfriends; enemies6. Never look a [prank] in the [prank].competitor; facelion; eyesgift horse; mouth7. [Prank] breeds [prank].Routine; boredomNovelty; creativityFamiliarity; contempt8. Let [prank] dogs [prank].starving; feedsleeping; liestray; roam9. All cats love [prank] but hate to get their paws [prank].mice; dirtyfish; wetyarn; tangled10.  Don’t [prank] the hand that [pranks] you.bite; feedsreject; guidesslap; nurtures  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Heady expressions

An English quiz on idiomatic expressions that include the word head. Since the head is the control centre of the body, the word head is used in many expressions. Test your knowledge of the following "heady" expressions by matching them with their meanings.1. keep a cool headbe conceitedbe in a situation too difficult to handlestay calm and think clearly in a difficult situationdo or say as little as possible in order to avoid attention2. cause heads to rollattract attention by looking interesting or attractivegive someone information or a warningappeal to a higher authoritycreate serious trouble for some people3. keep one’s head downdo or say as little as possible in order to avoid attentionstay calm and think clearly in a difficult situationbe out of touch with what is happeningbe deeply in love4. give a heads-upappeal to a higher authoritygive someone information or a warningbe conceitedcreate serious trouble for some people5. have a swelled headbe conceitedattract attention by looking interesting or attractivebe deeply in lovebe out of touch with what is happening6. be head over heelsbe in a situation too difficult to handleappeal to a higher authoritygive someone information or a warningbe deeply in love7. turn headsbe deeply in loveattract attention by looking interesting or attractivecreate serious trouble for some peoplebe in a situation too difficult to handle8. go over someone's headgive someone information or a warningcreate serious trouble for some peopleappeal to a higher authoritybe out of touch with what is happening9. be in way over one's headattract attention by looking interesting or attractivedo or say as little as possible in order to avoid attentionbe in a situation too difficult to handlestay calm and think clearly in a difficult situation10. have one's head in the cloudsbe out of touch with what is happeningbe conceitedstay calm and think clearly in a difficult situationdo or say as little as possible in order to avoid attention  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Nosy expressions

An English-language quiz on expressions with the word nose. The nose is responsible for our sense of smell, but did you know that it has also been the inspiration for an array of colourful expressions? See if you can make "scents" of the following expressions by matching them with their meanings. 1. be as plain as the nose on one's face remind someone repeatedly and unkindly of an error or failurealways work hardlack foresight or awarenessbe very obviouspay an excessive amount of money for somethingbe offended by somethingdominate or control someoneregard as inferior2. keep one's nose to the grindstone remind someone repeatedly and unkindly of an error or failurealways work hardlack foresight or awarenessbe very obviouspay an excessive amount of money for somethingbe offended by somethingdominate or control someoneregard as inferior3. look down one's nose at remind someone repeatedly and unkindly of an error or failurealways work hardlack foresight or awarenessbe very obviouspay an excessive amount of money for somethingbe offended by somethingdominate or control someoneregard as inferior4. pay through the nose remind someone repeatedly and unkindly of an error or failurealways work hardlack foresight or awarenessbe very obviouspay an excessive amount of money for somethingbe offended by somethingdominate or control someoneregard as inferior5. rub someone's nose in something remind someone repeatedly and unkindly of an error or failurealways work hardlack foresight or awarenessbe very obviouspay an excessive amount of money for somethingbe offended by somethingdominate or control someoneregard as inferior6. lead someone by the nose remind someone repeatedly and unkindly of an error or failurealways work hardlack foresight or awarenessbe very obviouspay an excessive amount of money for somethingbe offended by somethingdominate or control someoneregard as inferior7. see no further than the end of one's nose remind someone repeatedly and unkindly of an error or failurealways work hardlack foresight or awarenessbe very obviouspay an excessive amount of money for somethingbe offended by somethingdominate or control someoneregard as inferior8. get one's nose out of joint remind someone repeatedly and unkindly of an error or failurealways work hardlack foresight or awarenessbe very obviouspay an excessive amount of money for somethingbe offended by somethingdominate or control someoneregard as inferior  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Apple idioms

An English quiz on idiomatic expressions containing the word apple. There may not be any truth to the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but this quiz on common expressions with the word apple might help make your language skills healthier! In the questions below, choose the right meaning for each apple idiom.1. When talking about our neighbours’ daughter, we always say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.She has a green thumb.She is shy and stays at home.She resembles her parents.2. Steve often says that Suzanne is the apple of his eye.She is a loving person.She is the object of his affection.She is very attractive.3. Michael is a real apple polisher.He uses flattery to gain favour.He often speaks ill of others.He is very encouraging.4. Alison and Sean are like apples and oranges.They are fun to be with.They are very different.They are natural and wholesome.5. Brandon doesn’t want to upset the apple cart, so he’ll go along with everyone else.He doesn’t want to go off alone.He doesn’t want to cause a problem.He doesn’t want to be different.6. Gillian’s room is in apple-pie order.It is nicely decorated.It is disorderly and cluttered.It is tidy and organized.7. One rotten apple spoils the barrel.One bad idea can ruin carefully made plans.One bad event can trigger a series.One bad person leads others to do wrong.8. Lisa and Josie both like the same boy. That has become an apple of discord between them.It causes them to disagree.It causes them to feel embarrassed.It causes them to feel betrayed.  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Vivid expressions 2

A quiz on matching French idioms with their English equivalents. Every language contains colourful expressions that lend interest to speech and writing. Often, speakers of different languages develop sayings that express the same idea vividly but quite differently.Try your hand at matching these vivid expressions in English and French.1. se péter les bretellesto be too big for your britchesto blow your own hornto blow a gasket2. avoir du pain sur la plancheto have a lot on your plateto be someone’s bread and butterto break bread3. Qui va à la chasse perd sa place.The early bird catches the worm.You snooze, you lose.Move your feet, lose your seat.4. C’est une histoire à dormir debout.It’s like watching grass grow.It’s a tall tale.It’s a long story.5. avoir le cœur sur la mainto give the shirt off your backto have a heavy heartto have a heart of stone6. poser un lapinto go down the rabbit holeto be a no-showto pull a rabbit out of a hat7. Jamais deux sans trois.Things happen for a reason.It takes two to tango.Things always come in threes.  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Money talks

A quiz on idiomatic expressions containing the word “money. Here are some well-known expressions containing the word money. Test your knowledge of these sayings by choosing the correct word to fill in the blank!1. Money doesn't grow .like weedsunder cabbage leaveson trees2. To have money to .roastburnboil3. I wouldn't do that for nor money!gratitudefriendshiplove4. We'll give them a for their money.runriderush5. is money.HappinessLifeTime6. To make money over .hand, fisthead, shouldershead, heels7. Don't throw money after .good, badpaper, silvera friend's, one's own  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Fishy expressions

An English-language quiz on expressions containing the names of fish and the word “fish.” Certain fish are a good source of Omega-3s. Certain fish make good pets. And certain fish make for good English idioms! That's right, the names of some fish, and even the word fish itself, have made their way into many English expressions. Try our quiz to see how many of them you know!1. “To fish or cut bait” means to .give something your all or don't bother tryingaccept something as it is or move ontake action or move on2. Which of the following words completes the idiom “to fish in waters”?troubledshallowmurky3. If you find yourself in “a fine kettle of fish,” you're in an situation.awkwardidealprofitable4. A “red ” is a misleading clue.snapperherringsalmon5. If someone is “as slippery as an eel,” he or she is …spontaneous and flightydevious and elusiveslick and confident6. In the expression “to have bigger fish to fry,” “bigger fish” refers to more matters to attend to.practicalexcitingimportant7. The expression “packed in like ” is a synonym for “extremely crowded.”herringflaked tunasardines8. Which of the following words completes the idiom “as as a barrel of fish hooks”?rustycrookedsharp9. If something is declining in quality and popularity after having reached its peak, it is said to have “jumped the .”dolphintunashark10. “A big fish in a small pond” is a person who has a lot of …influence within a small groupfriends in a small townambition in a small company  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

Australian English in a nutshell

An English blog post on the origins and varieties of Australian English. Have you ever heard the expression “She’ll be apples”? What about “tracky daks” or “snags on the barbie”? These are just a few of the fascinating colloquialisms that are used in Oz. From its origins to its accents to other common sayings, here’s the lowdown on Australian English. Background The origins of Australian English can be traced back to the first European settlers, who began to arrive from the British Isles in 1788. Many of them were convicts sent to the penal colonies for mainly petty crimes; the rest were officers, marines, administrators, farmers and their families. As the children of these settlers became exposed to dialects from different regions of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, a new variety of English was created. Australian English was also enriched by contact with Australian Aboriginal languages, incorporating the Indigenous names of plants, animals and places (such as “bunya,” “dingo” and “Canberra”) into its vocabulary. As workers from abroad flocked to Australia in the 1850s in search of gold, the language continued to evolve. Later, by the 20th century, North American words, expressions and usage had crept into Australian English, largely as a result of films and mass media. The language was further influenced by military troops stationed in Australia during World War II, and later, by television and the Internet. Varieties There are three varieties of Australian English: cultivated, broad and general. These varieties differ in accent and are sociocultural rather than regional; that is, they often reflect the speaker’s social and educational background. At one end of the Australian English spectrum is Cultivated Australian, a variety that emerged towards the end of the 19th century in response to a British accent called Received Pronunciation. At the time, Received Pronunciation was associated with high social class and education. Thus, many socially aspiring Australians altered their accents to sound more British. This pronunciation was taught to Australians right up until the 1950s. Now, only about 10% of them speak the cultivated variety. On the other end of the spectrum is Broad Australian, a variety that developed in the early 20th century, possibly as a reaction against the emphasis on Received Pronunciation. The Broad Australian accent is easily recognizable and somewhat nasal; for example, the words “rate” and “buy” are pronounced “rite” and “boy.” Paul Hogan, of “Crocodile Dundee” fame, is well known for his Broad Australian accent. However, fewer and fewer Australians are sounding like the outlandish reptile poacher these days! Despite the emergence of the “extreme” cultivated and broad varieties, most Australians still speak General Australian, the accent that evolved between 1788 and 1840. It’s the most common of Australian accents, and it’s widely spoken in urban areas. General Australian English is also the standard language for Australian television and movies. Pronunciation and vocabulary In general, Aussies stretch their vowels, don’t pronounce “r” in the middle or at the end of words, and speak with a rising intonation at the end of a sentence. They also tend to shorten words and use endings such as “-o,” “-ie” and “-y” (guess where the word “selfie” comes from …). So if you’re ever in Australia and want to fit in, remember this simple rule: abbreviate, abbreviate, abbreviate! Check out the table below for a sampling of Australian English slang words and their Canadian English equivalents. Examples of Australian English slang words and their Canadian English equivalents Australian English Canadian English arvo afternoon barbie barbecue footy football jumbuck sheep mozzie mosquito roo kangaroo snag sausage sparky electrician sunnies sunglasses tracky daks tracksuit pants Finally, this post wouldn’t be complete without some colourful Aussie expressions. Here are some common sayings and their meaning in Canadian English. Examples of Australian English expressions and their meaning in Canadian English Australian English Canadian English chuck a sickie pretend to be sick in order to take the day off work or school come the raw prawn lie; deceive someone a fair suck of the sav a fair go at something flat out like a lizard drinking really busy give the Aussie salute wave flies away from one’s face good oil reliable information have a few roos loose in the top paddock be crazy she’ll be apples everything will be all right spit the dummy behave in a bad-tempered and childish way (“Dummy” refers to a pacifier.) How about you? Do you have any favourite Australian words or sayings? If so, please share them in the comments section! Catch ya later, mate!
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

Anacoluthon: A stylistic error

An English blog post about anacoluthon, which is a common syntactic error when it’s not being used intentionally as a stylistic device. In my post Make an impression with stylistic devices, I described some of the stylistic devices that all of us use: comparison, metaphor, metonymy, etc. But there are others that you need to be aware of because they’re considered to be stylistic errors. Today, I’m writing about anacoluthon, which is often seen in English writing in the form of “dangling modifiers.” No, anacoluthon isn’t a type of anaconda Anacoluthon is a breakdown in the structure of a sentence. It’s heading in one direction and changing your mind halfway through. In other words, anacoluthon occurs when the ideas aren’t connected. Some writers use it to surprise or confuse their readers. Here’s an example: Cleopatra’s nose, had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed. This quote, from French thinker Blaise Pascal, surprises the reader because they expect “it,” which refers to “Cleopatra’s nose,” to be the subject of the verb “would have been changed.” Cleopatra’s nose, had it been shorter, would have changed the whole face of the world. (her nose would have changed…) That’s how syntax works in English. The verb in the introductory clause (“had … been”) and the verb in the main clause (“would have changed”) must have the same subject. Playing with this syntax leads to a breakdown in the structure. If Pascal did it, then why is it an error? Anacoluthon is considered to be an error because it results in sentences that don’t follow the logic of English grammar. Anacoluthon can certainly be used to create an intentional stylistic effect, but it becomes an issue when it creates an unintentional effect. In short, anacoluthon is problematic because it can have secondary effects. Secondary effects? But what do they have to do with grammar? By “secondary effects,” I mean unintentional effects that interfere with the reader’s ability to understand the message. In English writing, a common type of anacoluthon is the dangling modifier. In sentences with dangling modifiers, the subject of the main clause and the subject of the modifying clause or phrase aren’t the same. The following are some examples of the secondary effects of dangling modifiers. Secondary effects of dangling modifiers Effect Example Explanation Ambiguity An excellent student, the teacher recognized Alex in front of the class. It’s unclear whether Alex or the teacher is an excellent student. Contradiction The parents punished the children after having horsed around all day. This sentence suggests that the parents horsed around, even though it was the children. Illogicality Unsold, she called a real estate agent. It’s the property that hasn’t sold, not the owner (“she”). How to be smarter than Pascal Here’s the rule: The introductory clause and the main clause must have the same subject. There are several strategies to achieve this. Change the subject (and the verb) in the main clause Incorrect: As a follow-up to our discussion, you will find the attached report. Correct: As a follow-up to our discussion, I am sending you the attached report. (The introductory clause and the main clause now have the same subject: I am following up on our discussion and I am sending you….) Rearrange the elements Incorrect: Written by the committee, I am giving you the report. Correct: I am giving you the report written by the committee. Replace a verb in the infinitive with a noun Incorrect: The report will be sent to management to approve the changes. Correct: The report will be sent to management for approval of the changes. Using these three strategies will help you avoid structural errors. If you’re looking for a way to practice identifying dangling modifiers, I’d recommend taking the quiz Dangling modifiers 1 from the Language Portal of Canada. You can also read the following articles on the Language Portal of Canada: “The Elusive Dangling Modifier” (from Peck’s English Pointers) and “dangling modifiers” (from Writing Tips Plus). For more information on anacoluthon, check out Brian Mossop’s article “Understanding Poorly Written Source Texts” (from Favourite Articles). Adapted by Anne-Marie Tugwell, Language Portal of Canada
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

My love for translation, interpretation … and Acadia

An English blog post in which the author shares her love for translation and for Acadia, and then recounts how she went back to school to become a translator or interpreter. I’ve known from a very tender age that being bilingual is a privilege. My mother’s family is Francophone; my father’s, Anglophone. And let me tell you, family visits were quite interesting, particularly with my cousins’ non-existent French and our garbled English. I think that’s when I first began to dream of becoming a translator. Not because I love words (as I often hear others say when they’re asked “Why translation?”), but because I love communication. To me, it’s vital that the message be understood on both sides of the invisible but very real language barrier. So now, at age 51, I’m in my second year of translation studies, and I love it! Even when my marks aren’t as good as they should be, even when I have to study until midnight on weekdays, I LOVE IT!!! Going back to school hasn’t been easy, but thanks to my young friends, it has been much easier than I thought it would be. At the University of Moncton, young people come from all over the Francophonie, including Africa, Europe, Quebec (students from Quebec get to shave a year off their studies) and New Brunswick. It’s very interesting to hear the din of conversation between classes, with all the varieties of French being spoken. To give you some background, I spent my childhood in the Outaouais region and then moved to Montréal when I was 12. Nearly 20 years later, I decided to relocate to New Brunswick. So my linguistic heritage comes from two distinct regions: the Outaouais and Montréal. Nothing prepared me for Acadian French, and I must say that I fell in love with Acadia, with the people and with the language, which is very rich and colourful. I love the Acadian accent, which differs from one region to another. Its lilting cadence and archaic words make for some amusing conversations at times. Here are some examples of words that surprised me the first time I heard them: Examples of Acadian words and their equivalents in standard French and English Acadian word Equivalent in standard French English translation of Acadian word Examples in a sentence English translation of examples berlandeux indécis indecisive Il est berlandeux. He’s indecisive. / He can never make up his mind. couler glisser to slip La glace m’a fait couler le pied. My foot slipped on the ice. espérer attendre wait Espère-moi. Wait for me. galance balançoire swing On va sur la galance. We’re going on the swing. hardes vêtements clothes On lave nos hardes. We’re washing our clothes. mitan milieu middle; halfway point On se rejoint au mitan du chemin. We’ll meet at the halfway point. For more words, see the Glossaire acadien by Pascal Poirier, which is available for free on the Internet (in French only). We should never be afraid to ask for clarification about things we hear people say, because it can lead to some very entertaining stories. I’m very happy to be living in an Acadian environment. I’m taking advantage of this opportunity to learn a variety of French that has managed to survive over the centuries (Acadians have been here for more than 400 years). But to get back to what I was saying, although I have Québécois roots, I’m an Acadian at heart, and my love for the language just keeps on growing. I’m studying to be a translator, but I’m not much of a purist, which will cause me problems (I’m sure of it!). Right now, I’m still learning. Actually, I’d like to be an interpreter, since I’ve had several opportunities to interpret from Spanish to English and from Spanish to French, as well as from English to French and from French to English. I was always keenly aware that the message (the content) was what was most important, not necessarily the words. I had to stick as close to the meaning as possible and act as a bridge between two worlds that couldn’t understand each other. Translating orally from one language to another is such a wonderful profession! I don’t like to say “interpreting,” because the meaning might be misunderstood: we don’t interpret words, we deliver the message in another language. But, in fact, that’s what interpreting is, so who am I to change the name of such a beautiful profession? Wish me luck in my studies, and tell me if you have any funny stories about your experiences with a variety of your language. Adapted by Josephine Versace, Language Portal of Canada
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

Make an impression with stylistic devices

An English blog post about stylistic devices with examples to demonstrate how useful they are. You don’t have to be Shakespeare to use stylistic devices. If you speak English, I guarantee that you use them. And probably even some with names that would score you the win in Scrabble, such as hyperbole, cacophony and juxtaposition, just to name a few. Let’s explore the main stylistic devices together. Along the way, feel free to click on the hyperlinked terms to learn more. Are you ready? All right, let’s find out what stylistic devices are all about! Stylistic devices defined A stylistic device is a linguistic technique that modifies everyday language to make it more expressive. Stylistic devices can play with the meaning, form, sound and order of words. They allow us to express something with more panache! Stylistic devices for beginners In school, the first stylistic device we learn about is the analogy. We start with similes, such as “happy as a clam,” “fight like cats and dogs,” and “light as a feather.” Then we move on to the metaphor, the simile’s cousin, which, unlike the simile, doesn’t use like or as to create a comparison. Some examples include “The room was a furnace.” “Life is a rollercoaster.” “The visit to the spa was an oasis of calm in a hectic week.” “Her voice is music to my ears.” And the list goes on … Expressions as stylistic devices I'm sure you've noticed that expressions are great sources of stylistic devices. If you call yourself a “Wayne Gretzky” on the ice, you’re using an antonomasia. In other words, you’re using a proper name as a substitute for a common noun. If you shout to the opposing team that “you’ll show them a good time,” you’re so sure of yourself that you dare to use an antiphrasis, because clearly you’re suggesting that the game won't be any fun for them at all. Finally, the celebratory pint you’ll have after your victory is a good example of metonymy, which involves replacing the name of something (in this case, beer) with the name of another closely related thing (a pint glass). Stylistic devices for business Stylistic devices have their place in business as well. A euphemism is a great way to exercise tact by expressing something harsh in a milder way. Sending a call for interest to job seekers rather than the unemployed is a good example of the use of euphemism. Ellipsis can be effective in administrative documents. In a long sentence, or even a short one, this type of omission is practical as long as it doesn’t create any ambiguity. You may even have used an ellipsis before, in a sentence like the following: “The conference starts at 9:00 a.m.; registration, at 8:30 a.m.” Finally, if you simply want to lighten the mood around the office, you might try a pun, such as “Nice scissors! They’re looking pretty sharp.” Stylistic devices for social media Stylistic devices of all kinds are widely used on social media. For starters, if you say you’re surfing the Internet, you’re using a catachresis, because you’re using the word “surf” in a way that deviates from its traditional meaning. On social media, you can drop syllables from words with ease, using an aphaeresis (such as “’cause” instead of “because”) or an apocope (such as “fab” instead of “fabulous”). And you can even drop spaces to merge words, whether they’re preceded by a pound sign (#) or not. Examples of such syntagmatic amalgams include #whatchadoingPound sign W H A T C H A D O I N G (What are you doing?), #gotchaPound sign G O T C H A (Got you) and amiritePound sign A M I R I T E (Am I right?). Stylistic devices for everyone There you have it! We all use stylistic devices everywhere, all the time. We use them to be fancy, to be funny, to make believe and to make an impression. In fact, it’s in these various deviations from traditional meaning that the richness of our thoughts, emotions, personalities and imaginations lie. So which stylistic devices did you use today, when talking about the news this morning, in the car or on the bus, when you got to work, or at your last meeting? For inspiration, check out this article on stylistic devices and this list of stylistic devices. Adapted by Natalie Ballard, Language Portal of Canada
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

7 proverbs and expressions that Granny used to use

A blog post outlining seven entertaining sayings that the author’s great-grandmother used to use. Languages are rich because they carry within them the culture and history of the people who speak them. They are kept alive when expressions are passed on from one generation to the next, and they have the power to rekindle memories. I was fortunate enough to know my great-grandmother, who never said much but often spoke in proverbs and expressions. Here are some of her sayings, along with their meanings: 1. There are none so deaf as those who will not hear. If someone refuses to listen, it’s pointless to hope for a solution to the problem. This is the proverb that I quote most often, especially in interviews when I’m asked situational questions involving a difficult employee or manager. In Quebec, there’s a similar proverb: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." 2. Better take him to the movies instead of a restaurant. This saying refers to someone with a big appetite. Granny would use it when she watched my brother eat. Given the food available in movie theatres today, this proverb is debatable, but we still use it jokingly in my family. 3. It’s better when it’s not weighed. We appreciate something more when we haven’t paid for it. We think that Granny was referring to something stolen and not just given. She wasn’t a thief, but she experienced deprivation under Nazi occupation, and she probably had to steal food to feed her husband and two children. 4. She doesn’t have both feet in the same clog. This expression refers to someone who is very resourceful. In Brittany, where I come from, people wore wooden clogs until the middle of the 20th century, which explains the choice of words. Quebeckers use the same expression, but they say “boot” instead of “clog.” 5. It’s better for them to be together than to spoil things for two other people. Granny avoided speaking ill of people directly and preferred to use euphemisms, like this expression. Referring to a mean or unpleasant couple, she meant that at least they weren’t ruining the lives of two good people. 6. Does a sick person want to be well? When Granny was offered something she particularly liked, this was her way of saying "Yes, of course!" For example: My uncle: “Want a chocolate cookie, Granny?” Granny: “Dear, does a sick person want to be well?” This is one of the proverbs I imported into Canada, and the people within my circle are starting to use it! 7. The dead are dead only when people stop talking about them. This is the proverb that Granny would use with a lump in her throat, because she lost her husband and son very young. In his book Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives, author David Eagleman says something similar: it’s only when your name is spoken for the last time that you truly die. I quoted this proverb at my grandfather's funeral and made the congregation laugh by telling an anecdote about him. I then asked my family and friends to keep talking about him so that he could go on living in another way. It’s a practice that I follow on a daily basis and a proverb that’s close to my heart. What about you? What family proverbs do you particularly like, and why? Translated by Josephine Versace, Language Portal of Canada
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? To cliché, or not to cliché: that is the question

An English blog post in which the author endorses the use of clichés to communicate effectively. That Shakespeare, eh? What a hack. Clichés all over the place! Lots of English teachers and writing guides advise us to be wary of using clichés in our writing. The idea is to be fresh and original. Clichéd writing holds no surprises for the reader. Here are a few of these admonishments: The language experts speak Source Entry Remarks Modern English Usage Cliché Some clichés are “far-fetched and pointless literary echoes which convict their users either of not thinking what they are saying or of having a debased taste in ornament.” Usage and Abusage Cliché “A cliché is an outworn commonplace … that has become so hackneyed that scrupulous speakers and writers shrink from it because they feel that its use is an insult to the intelligence of their auditor or audience, reader or public.” Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage, Second Edition Cliché “So the advice from here is to avoid the cliché when an equally apt phrasing comes readily to mind.” All your past English teachers How to write well/impress me “For every cliché I find in your essay, I will take off five marks!” But we are also taught that most of what we imagine to be original thoughts have been thought before, by someone else, even centuries ago. Which brings us to Shakespeare, who had a lot of thoughts that many other people have since had. But he expressed them best, so people decided to reuse his words rather than their own, inadequate, new formulations. By reusing his words, writers could easily convey to people who had heard those words before the ideas they wanted to communicate. And isn’t that the point of writing—to communicate? Okay, yes, sometimes writers want to show off, but most of us, in most situations, just want to get our ideas across as efficiently as possible. As a government translator, most of my work involves functional texts. These documents need to convey a message, often to the general public and usually in an informative or persuasive manner. What better way to do so than to use clichés? Everyone has heard them before and knows what they mean. They will create no confusion. Yes, clichés are truly effective that way. That’s because they tap into everyone’s common knowledge, what linguists call the “doxa.” The Greek word “doxa” is defined broadly as “belief” or “opinion.” In a linguistics context, the term refers to the set of common opinions and ideas and their expression in a given society at a given moment in time. By reaching into our shared set of ideas using simple and well-known expressions, writers can quickly and effectively communicate. If that’s not a good method for writing, I don’t know what is! This does mean, of course, that our poor English teachers and language mavens will have to put a little water in their wine. While their advice is surely useful to writers of literature, poetry and other artistic uses of language, it is much less helpful to most writers and speakers. So, the next time you feel guilty about telling people to keep the bird in hand rather than go for the two in the bush, don’t hesitate. Just reach into the doxa, that grab bag of collective knowledge, and pull out your favourite cliché. You can list some of them in comments, if you like, or try to make an original contribution and see if it winds up in the doxa. Good luck!
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

“Hot” summer quizzes

An English blog post in which the author provides an overview of quizzes in the Language Portal of Canada on expressions and vocabulary related to summer. There’s plenty of time to play in the summer, especially when you’re on vacation! Why not try a few quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada? They’re sure to enhance your knowledge of vocabulary related to the hot season, in both official languages. Spotlight on “hot” expressions It’s summer, and it’s hot. Sometimes we sweat buckets, especially during a heat wave. But the French idiom “on a eu chaud” doesn’t necessarily mean that we perspired … How would you translate this expression into English? “We were hot”? Hmm, maybe not! The quizzes Hot stuff 1 and Hot stuff 2 will show you that the French adjective chaud isn’t always translated into English by hot or warm. Try them! Your score will tell you if you’re really “hot”! Flower riddles Add a colourful, fresh, fragrant touch to your summer days with the riddle quizzes A bouquet of summer flowers and Another bouquet of summer flowers. It’s easy! Just figure out the clues that stand for the names of flowers such as yarrow, chrysanthemum and hibiscus. Ready to play? Summer-flavoured expressions Imagine that you’re alone, sitting on the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water and eyes glued to a gripping novel. Total escape. Perfect tranquility. And suddenly … Splash! Some kid doing a cannonball snaps you back to reality. You’re drenched, and so is your book. What a mess! Who pulled this prank? Right then, you tell yourself that “it’s no picnic.” But since you’re a ray of sunshine in life, you quickly realize that the incident is a drop of water in the ocean. How would you say these expressions in French? Test your knowledge of summer-related idioms with the quiz Summery expressions, which contains seven more idioms to fire up your sleepy brain cells! Annuals, perennials and other types of plants After dipping your feet in the pool, get your hands dirty in the garden! But as you’re planting a perennial cactus (yes, some varieties of this succulent plant can withstand Canadian winters), a thorn gets stuck in your thumb … Ouch! Let medicinal plants come to the rescue and treat your poor green thumb! Want to know what these plants are called in French? And how about annuals, conifers and ground covers? Time to roll up your sleeves and start digging in Gardening 101: Types of plants! UFI: Unidentified flying insects Bumblebee, drone, bee, wasp, hornet, horsefly, it’s all the same to you. They sting and it hurts, right? Oh well, don’t feel bad. You’re not the only one who putz all theze bugzzz in the same bazket. The quiz Yellow-and-black-striped flying insects should help you tell them apart. And as a bonus, you’ll learn their names in French. A fun-filled trip to the land of insects awaits you! I hope this overview of quizzes on the Language Portal has piqued your curiosity enough to try them all! Tell me if you liked them in the comments section. I’d also like to hear your suggestions for language quizzes! Translated by Line Lalande, Language Portal of Canada
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

10 practical tips to enrich your French vocabulary

An English blog post on 10 tips for increasing your French vocabulary. When we learn a language, especially at school, we study grammar rules and verb conjugations, we memorize sentences and sometimes even word lists. But when the time comes to speak, we may feel unable to express our ideas clearly. Maybe we don’t have enough vocabulary to do so, or maybe the vocabulary we do have isn’t useful in that situation. For example, let’s say you have to give your opinion on city traffic. You know what your view is, but you lack the specific vocabulary to express it. Or let’s take a simpler, everyday example. After many hours of studying French, you want to explain how to prepare one of your favourite recipes. You know the verbs you need for the steps, but you don’t know the words for the ingredients. Or vice versa: you know the words for the ingredients, but not the verbs for the steps. So what can you do to enrich your vocabulary in a practical way, without creating or memorizing word lists? Through my experience as a French teacher and also as a foreign language learner, I’ve discovered a few simple but effective strategies for learning new words. Here are some everyday tips you may find helpful: 1. Read the French version of product labels Here in Canada, we have the wonderful advantage of having the labels of many products written in both official languages, English and French. 2. Make French the display language on your electronic devices Change the language setting to French on your computer, cellphone or tablet. 3. Read the news in French When you read a French newspaper, choose a news article, pick out the important words, and look them up in the dictionary. 4. Write a page in your journal for each of your daily activities For example, if you go to the gym, at the end of your workout, write up a summary to learn the French words for the machines and the muscles you used, and the exercises you did. 5. Check the weather forecast in French Break the ice with any Francophone by using the appropriate words to describe the weather in each season. 6. Find out the French name for your favourite articles of clothing for every season This way, each time you wear those items of clothing, you’ll think of their French name. And you’ll find shopping easier when you visit a Francophone province. 7. Create a Twitter account in French Even if you don’t like social media very much, you can still learn vocabulary for topics that interest you by following the accounts of people, groups and organizations (like the Language Portal of Canada) that matter to you. 8. Add French captions to your photos Why not create an Instagram account specifically to write French captions under your photos? You can also ask your (new) Francophone friends to suggest captions. 9. Enrich your vocabulary through play Click on Jeux sur le vocabulaire (vocabulary quizzes) on the Resources of the Language Portal of Canada website, and you’ll find a variety of quizzes that will help you discover new French words or refresh your memory of old ones. 10. Research vocabulary related to a topic that interests you TERMIUM Plus®, a terminology and linguistic data bank, lists numerous terms by subject field. That really helps in retaining concepts and applying them in everyday life. Now, it’s your turn! What tips would you add to this list? In the Comments section, share your ideas (or your friends’ ideas) for learning new vocabulary. Thanks in advance! Translated by Josephine Versace, Language Portal of Canada
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

What Gallicisms are and why we use them

An English blog post on Gallicisms. “I filled up on hors d’oeuvres earlier, so I think I’ll just order from the à la carte menu rather than having the table d’hôte.” What do you notice about that sentence? Probably that it contains 3 French expressions, right? You probably also noticed that the sentence didn’t sound strange to you. That’s because “hors d’oeuvres,” “à la carte” and “table d’hôte” are French expressions that we commonly use in English. Did you know that there’s a name for the French words and expressions that people use when speaking other languages? They’re called “Gallicisms,” which comes from the word “Gallic,” meaning “French.” And we use them for a number of reasons. Let’s explore a few together. 1. Cultural ties Certain words and expressions may be so rooted in a culture that it would feel strange to use the English equivalent (if there even is one). In parts of Quebec, such as Montreal and Gatineau, where English and French co-exist, words like “dépanneur,” “cabane à sucre,” “autoroute,” “guichet,” “stage,” “Régie,” “terrasse” and “chalet” are part of everyday speech, because they’re so tied to the province’s culture that using them is natural and maybe even necessary if we want to fit in and be understood. To put it into perspective, when we think of “going to the chalet,” we automatically think of the Laurentians. When we think of “going to the cottage,” our minds shift to the Muskokas or the Kawarthas. 2. Language mixing If we’re bilingual or multilingual and speak French often, we’ve likely used a French word or phrase in the other language. Maybe a word simply came to mind in French first either because that word, or to be more precise, that concept, is more common in the French culture. Or maybe we’d just returned from a full day at the office with mostly French-speaking co-workers, and we were still thinking in French. Whatever the reason, when we speak French and one or more other languages regularly, the constant contact between the languages makes it easy to use a French word or phrase unintentionally instead of the equivalent in the other language. 3. Lack of a suitable word or expression Sometimes, there’s just no suitable word or expression in another language to express a certain concept. For example, English has no equivalent for the French expressions “je ne sais quoi” and “joie de vivre.” Sure, we can find English words or phrases to describe the same concepts. For “je ne sais quoi,” we could say that something has an “indescribable quality” or “a certain something.” And for “joie de vivre,” we could say that someone has a “love of life.” But none of those phrases fully convey the meaning of the French expressions. So when we’re faced with such a gap and a French expression can fill it, we borrow it! 4. Literal translation Gallicisms can also occur when we translate a French expression word for word into another language. The temptation to do this can be strong if we’re fluent in French and can’t think of the right way to say something in another language. “Close the light” (rather than the idiomatic “turn off the light”) is a perfect example of a literal translation of “fermer la lumière.” For examples of other common Gallicisms that result from literal translations, such as “opening hours” and “providers of service,” check out the section of the University of Ottawa’s writing guide called Translation problems. Do you notice yourself using Gallicisms in everyday speech? If so, which ones do you use and why? Let me know in the comment section below!
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

The language of tweets and hashtags: A bilingual mini-glossary of social media terms

An English blog post on social media terminology. If I told you I added a “hashtag” to my Tweet or that I posted a “status update” on Facebook, you’d probably know what I meant. But what if I told you that I was a “wikipedian” or that my latest “vlog” was online? Would you know what I meant then? Maybe not! Today, we use social media to make it easier to share content, collaborate and connect with people. But social media platforms have a language all their own, and if you don’t know it, using certain platforms can be a challenge. Here’s a useful table that will help you understand the meanings of certain social media terms. The table also gives you the equivalent French term. So the next time you tweet in French, you can say you added “mots-clics” to your “gazouillis” instead of “j’ai tweeté des hashtags”!   English-French mini-glossary of social media terms English term French term Definition chatting clavardage (masculine noun) A real-time texting conversation between users over the Internet.1 unfriend désamicaliser; décopiner; amiradier To remove a person from your list of friends or contacts.1 geotagging data données de géomarquage (feminine plural noun) Information that associates a geographical location with photos, videos, messages, etc.1 emoticon; smiley émoticône (feminine noun); binette (feminine noun); A symbol or an image that represents the mood of the person sending the message. tag étiquette (feminine noun) A keyword added to a picture, video or text in order to classify its content or identify a person. Note: In French, the term used on Facebook is “identification.” crowdsourcing externalisation ouverte (feminine noun); externalisation à grande échelle (feminine noun) The practice of making use of the creativity, intelligence and expertise of Internet users to carry out a particular activity. home timeline fil d’actualités (masculine noun) On Twitter, the chronological stream of all the tweets from any accounts to which a user has subscribed.1 news feed fil de nouvelles (masculine noun) On Facebook, the centre column of a user’s homepage that contains status updates, videos, photos, etc. twitterer; tweeter gazouilleur (masculine noun), gazouilleuse (feminine noun) A Twitter account holder who reads and posts tweets. retweet; RT gazouillis partagé (masculine noun) On Twitter, a tweet that a user forwards to his or her followers. status update mise à jour de statut (feminine noun) A new post on your personal profile.1 Note: Term used on Facebook. hashtag mot-clic (masculine noun); mot-dièse (masculine noun) A keyword, a keyword string or a theme preceded by the pound or number sign and used to index and categorize content. handle; nickname pseudonyme (masculine noun); pseudo (masculine noun) An Internet user’s alias or shortened name. post publication (feminine noun) Anything published on a social media platform, such as text, images, videos and audio recordings. log in; sign in se connecter; ouvrir une session To start a log-in session; to sign into your account.1 log out; sign out se déconnecter; fermer une session To end the current log-in session; to sign out of your account.1 video blog; vlog; videoblog vidéoblogue (masculine noun); vlogue (masculine noun); blogue vidéo (masculine noun) A blog in which posts are in the form of a video.1 wikipedian wikipédiste (noun); wikipédien (masculine noun), wikipédienne (feminine noun) A person who writes or edits articles on Wikipedia. Source: The Translation Bureau’s Social Media Glossary 1 My own definitions. For a more complete list, I encourage you to check out the Social Media Glossary in TERMIUM Plus®. It’s a very useful tool for all social media users. Now that you know the meanings of certain social media terms, do you think you’ll be more comfortable using and talking about various social media platforms? Let us know in the comments below! Adapted by Natalie Ballard, Language Portal of Canada
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

Food for thought: Exploring the origins of culinary terms

An English blog post about how words related to food travel from one language to another. At an Indian restaurant, I’m transported by the tantalizing spices and tasty dishes. When I eat out Italian, I savour the rich and creamy sauces. In Japanese cuisine, I’m amazed by the visual presentation of the dishes. If you’re like me, flavours, aromas, textures and colours take you away. But how many of us realize how far the vocabulary of food has travelled? English words borrowed from afar Words from foreign languages make us think of exotic places and unusual flavours. I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that the English language has borrowed many such words. Note that the language from which English has borrowed these words is not necessarily the language from which these words originated. When it comes to language contact, there’s often an intermediary! Here are a few examples of English food terms borrowed from other languages. Some might surprise you… Foreign words borrowed into English English words borrowed from other languages Source language bratwurst, Emmenthal, kirsch, lager, noodle, pretzel, pumpernickel, sauerkraut, schnapps, schnitzel, strudel, vermouth German apricot, coffee, couscous, falafel, orange, saffron, shawarma, spinach, syrup, tabbouleh, tahini, tajine Arabic beef, café au lait, casserole, cream, croissant, cuisine, custard, eclair, mayonnaise, meringue, mousse, mustard, omelette, pastry, quiche, sauce, soufflé French avocado, barbecue, chorizo, daiquiri, empanada, fajita, gazpacho, guacamole, jalapeno, maize, maté, nacho, paella, quinoa, salsa, sangria, tapa, tortilla, vanilla Spanish amaretto, arugula, bergamot, broccoli, cauliflower, espresso, farfalle, lasagna, latte, macaroni, spaghetti, tiramisu, vermicelli, zucchini Italian baklava, bulgur, dolma, hummus, pilaf, raki, shish kebab, yogourt Turkish English words created in Canada From Canada’s Indigenous peoples, English borrowed words such as “saskatoon” berries and “pemmican” (dried meat mixed with fat and berries), as well as the names of animals enjoyed for their meat, like caribou, moose, sockeye, muskie and geoduck. We’ve also invented names for home-grown dishes: Beaver Tail (Ontario) Nanaimo bar (British Columbia) schmoo torte (Manitoba) English words used in other languages If English has borrowed food-related words, then you can be sure that English food terms have found their way into other languages as well. Take the humble sandwich: its name is well entrenched in French, Italian and Spanish! And who hasn’t heard of expressions such as “apporter son lunch,” “prendre un cocktail” or “préparer des muffins” in French? Terms like “hamburger,” “bacon” and “fast food” are also well known to Francophones. Culinary expressions Food is even the basis for many English idioms. Have you ever wondered why there are so many expressions with the word “salt”: worth one’s salt, take something with a grain of salt, the salt of the earth? In ancient times, salt was highly valued and was used as an item of trade and a form of currency. And here’s another example: when things are going well, we say everything is peaches and cream; when things are not going well, we say they have gone sour! I’m not feeding you a bunch of baloney when I say that words linked to food are used in a great variety of ways. To finish off, how about trying a food-themed quiz? I’m sure the Language Portal of Canada’s quiz Food clichés 1 will whet your appetite. You can find the “Food clichés” series in our quizzes on vocabulary, under Idiomatic expressions. Now, it’s your turn to make our mouths water. What are your favourite culinary words and expressions? Which ones make you chuckle? Share your thoughts in a comment! Adapted by Josephine Versace, Language Portal of Canada
Source: Our Languages blog (posts from our contributors)

Heartfelt expressions

An English quiz on idiomatic expressions that include the word “heart” The heart has long been associated with human emotion. So it’s no wonder that the English language abounds with expressions using the word heart. Test your knowledge of the following "heartfelt" expressions by matching them to their meanings.1. have your heart in your bootsconfess or confide in someonewant something very much; feel sad or jealousfeel sad, disappointed or worried2. wear your heart on your sleeveshow your feelings openlybe kind and generousbe very anxious or frightened3. have your heart in your mouthbe cold or unfeelingsuddenly feel anxious, excited or frightenedhave good intentions4. have a heart of stonetake something seriouslybe cold or unfeelingwant something very much; feel sad or jealous5. eat your heart outhave good intentionstake something seriouslywant something very much; feel sad or jealous6. take something to hearttake something seriouslyconfess or confide in someonehave good intentions7. pour your heart outconfess or confide in someonehave good intentionsbe kind and generous8. have your heart in the right placeshow your feelings openlybe kind and generoushave good intentions9. cross your heartbe kind and generouspromise or pledgebe cold or unfeeling10. have a heart of goldshow feelings openlybe kind and generoushave good intentions  
Source: Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada

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