Striding through thick forests

Hiya Folks,

English loves idioms, and the more I blog about them the more I realize how many there are and how commonly we use them. If any of them are new to you, do make an effort to use them. That way, they won’t die out.

Here are a few of my favourites:

Can’t see the forest for the trees

Use this when you’re right in the middle of a situation and as a result cannot analyse it. You might be able to understand it more in hindsight, removed from the situation, but not when you’re in it.

One of my favourite newspaper headlines from decades ago in a Montreal newspaper did a clever play on words with this idiom – you can’t see the forest for the thieves. The article was about people stealing trees from a nursery, but how they left one straight line of trees at the edge, so from far you couldn’t tell that the rest of the trees had gone missing… Stealing trees, huh? Look for people with particularly large biceps.

In the thick of things

Speaking of being in a situation, this idiom goes perfectly to describe it. When you are in the thick of things, you are very much involved. It could be a plot or a plan, but there you find yourself – right in the thick of things.

To take something in your stride

You are so relaxed, nothing stresses you out. You just take things in your stride. Something’s gone missing? You or your child failed a grade or lied? A forest fire is devastating your town? Just shrug it off. Why? Because you take it in your stride.

Picture someone walking unhurriedly – a relaxed stride. Whether someone is chasing you or the world is falling apart around you, you carry on.

And that’s a wrap, Folks. Short and sweet this time around. See if you can use them this week in your speaking or writing. Or do one better and pull a play on words off if you can.

PerfectlyWriteKids.com wishes you a good week.