Fawn, as a noun, means a young deer. The phrasal verb, to fawn over, means “to give care and attention to someone, the way a mother deer gives care and attention to her fawn—constantly and with much affection.” Although this might sound like a good thing, the phrase has negative connotations when describing human behavior. It […]

Let’s break down the meaning of the phrase, “in every sense of the word.” In this expression, the word, sense, refers to meaning. As you already know, many words have multiple meanings. Well, this phrase is basically saying that a given word that is used to describe someone or something is applicable in more than […]

What does it mean when we say, “What goes up must come down”? On the surface, this common English idiom refers to the law of gravity, on Earth. If you throw something upward, it must come down, due to the Earth’s gravity. On a deeper level, it refers to the universal principle that everything goes […]

To wax poetic means to become poetic (with one’s language). The verb to wax usually describes the moon developing towards fullness (full of light). The moon waxes from dark to full over a two-week period. Another verb, to wane, describes the moon going from full to dark. We say the moon is waxing / waning. Other things […]

English speakers often say, “I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but…” and then they proceed to tell you some bad news! Funny how that works. Let’s take a closer look at this common English phrase. To bear, in this case, means to bring. It can also mean to carry or to endure, […]