Category Archives: Word of the Week

Word of the Week – Week # 30 (Changes Coming)

Idioms, Reflections, Word of the Week

Hello and Welcome!

Our word of the week is Idiom.

Merriam Webster defines Idiom as:

1: an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for “undecided”) or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way)

2a: the language peculiar to a people or to a district, community, or class : DIALECT b: the syntactical, grammatical, or structural form peculiar to a language

3: a style or form of artistic expression that is characteristic of an individual, a period or movement, or a medium or instrument

I choose this word today because I am still finding myself struggling to find a word each week and write about it, so I have decided to change horses midstream. Rather than write a word of the week I am going to share an idiom of the week. When they were in high school my daughters had a teacher who would write an idiom on the board each day and I believe they included that as part of the class discussion. All of the girls really enjoyed that part of class, so maybe we can have some fun with them too. 🙂

Can you guess what our first idiom is?

According to The Free dictionary.com

change horses in midstream means:

1. To choose a new leader during a period of upheaval or uncertainty.

2. To make major changes to a situation or course of action that is already underway.

and according to The Phrase Finder the idea of “Don’t change horses midstream” was used in an 1864 speech by Abraham Lincoln, in reply to Delegation from the National Union League who were urging him to be their presidential candidate. He cited ‘An old Dutch farmer, who remarked to a companion once that it was not best to swap horses when crossing streams.”

Thanks for reading.

Do you use idioms often?

Can you think of an instance when you decided to “change horses midstream”? Please share in the comments section below.

Word of the Week – Week # 28

Reflections, Word of the Week

Hello and Welcome!

Our word for this week is Reminisce.

I was quite disappointed in Merriam Webster’s definition since it only said: the act of reminiscing (to find out more I would have to click on the word reminiscing) so I went to the Cambridge Dictionary where I found this definition for reminisce:

to talk or write about past experiences that you remember with pleasure.

This past week my husband had a box of Good & Plenty candies and offered me some. As he did we began talking about Choo Choo Charlie from the TV commercial that used to advertise Good & Plenty’s. Neither of us remembered the tune but my husband mentioned a girl in the commercial that I did not remember, so he went to his computer and was able to pull up the commercial.

After listening to the jingle a few time my husband sang it the rest of the evening. Since then at random times one of us will sing “Charlie says” to which the other replies melodically “Love my good & plenty’s”. Then we laugh. It’s just a fun little memory that can brighten our day.

Do you like Good & Plenty’s? Are there any TV commercials that bring back fond memories for you?

Thanks for visiting.

Word of the Week -Week # 27

Reflections, Word of the Week

Hello and Welcome!

Our word of the week is Astute.

Meriam Webster defines astute as:

having or showing shrewdness and an ability to notice and understand things clearly : mentally sharp or clever

In my opinion astute is not a pleasant sounding word (sharp, clever or “on the ball” sound much better). However astuteness is an admirable attribute, so if someone referred to me as being astute I would certainly consider it a compliment.

Now the astute reader (of my blog) may have noticed that there is no “Word of the Week – Week # 26”. They may even want to call me out on it, to which I would applaud them for paying attention and thank then for being a loyal reader. I would also apologize though I have no excuse; I didn’t forget, I wasn’t too busy, I have not been ill and I am not on vacation. For some reason I just was not able to coordinate my mind with my body in order to produce that post.

Again I apologize and hopefully this post will get me back on track for the remainder of the year.

Thanks for reading.

Word Of The Week – Week #25

Reflections, Word of the Week

Hello and Welcome.

Momma keeping an eye on her baby.

Our word of the week is Serendipity.

Merriam Webster defines Serendipity as:

 the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for

Serendipity is a fun word to say (at least in my opinion). I seem to experience this phenomenon often – like spotting the momma deer watching her baby from a distance or witnessing a humming bird playing in the lawn sprinkler. Serendipity makes me smile.

Thanks for reading. 🙂

Word of the Week – Week # 24

Reflections, Word of the Week

Hello and Welcome!

Our word this week is humility.

Merriam Webster defines humility as:

 freedom from pride or arrogance : the quality or state of being humble

Like, integrity, humility is a characteristic that I have great respect and admiration for: the person who, when praised, gives credit to those who have supported their efforts: the one who has the strength to say “I was wrong. I am sorry.”: and the individual who truly finds it an honor to serve those in need.

What Other’s Have To Say

A great man is always willing to be little. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson 

There’s no need to show off when you know who you are. ~ Maxime Lagacé

Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real. ~Thomas Merton 

To lead the people, walk behind them. ~ Lao Tzu

Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will. ~ Zig Ziglar

Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues. ~ Confucius

It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. ~ Augustine of Hippo

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. ~ C. S. Lewis

If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. ~ Mother Teresa

Don’t seek praise. Let your effort speak for itself. ~ Unknown

What The Bible Says

Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Proverbs 27:2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.

Romans 12:16  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Philippians 2:3-4 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Matthew 23:10-12 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Luke 14:11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Thanks for visiting!