Hibiscus Of The Day

Hibiscus ID: Holly's Pride

Bought From Canaan Gardens

Can Be Seen In: Abe's Farm

Idiom Of The Day

 Let's start using idioms or idiomatic expressions when we write. When idioms are used, it add color and texture to language by creating images that convey meanings beyond those of the individual words that make them up. An idiom can be very colorful and make a 'picture' in our minds. It also shows the writer's familiarity with English. When you want to make your writing sound more conversational, including idioms can give your writing a more relaxed tone.

Idioms allow us to say a lot with few words. Idioms amplify your messages in a way that draws your readers in and helps awaken their senses. It adds dynamism and character to otherwise stale writing. They make your writing less monotonous and your readers will think that you are smart and knowledgeable. All the while ... you only clothe your writing with elaborate idioms to create an impact... saying too much with less. 

To perfect your English, you really need to become confident in using idioms and knowing the difference between breaking a leg and pulling someone's leg. So the idiom of the day is:

IDIOM: Take it with a grain of salt (American). Take it with a pinch of salt (British).

MEANING: It means not believing something that you were told because it is unlikely to be true. The information you just received is not accurate ... so accept it with some degree of suspicion and disbelief ... treat it skeptically with reservations.

ORIGIN:The idea comes from the fact that food is more easily eaten or swallowed if taken with a small amount of salt. The origin dates back in 77 A.D. when a Roman philosopher Gaius Plinius Secundus also known as Pliny the Elder discovered the recipe for an antidote to poison. In his translation in Naturalis Historia, he used the words "be taken fasting, plus a grain of salt".

USING IT IN A SENTENCE: The story sounds so incredible ... so take it with a grain of salt until you get more details.

Idioms In Tagalog

 One of my friends asked:  "Are there idiom equivalents also  in the Tagalog language?" Of course, there are.  Katulad ng idioms sa English, ginagamit ito para tumingkad ang paglalarawan ng mga bagaybagay at para mapaigting  at matalinhaga ang takbo ng usapin o pagsusulat.

And just like in English ... ang kahulugan ng mga "sawikain or idioms" ay magkaiba sa literal meaning ng mga salita. Sa madaling salita ang mga sawikain don't mean exactly what the individual words in it say. Tandaan natin ... ang figurative meaning ng mga sawikain ... is different from its literal meaning.

If somebody tells a farmer na siya ay hampaslupa ... huwag kang praning 'tol.  At chill ka lang. Technically ako ay isang farmer din sa ngayon because I spend most of my waking hours in the farm. And I don't take offense kung sabihin nila na ako ay hampas lupa. 

Figuratively speaking hampas lupa mean vagobond, a pauper. And so far that is not true ... dahil ako lang siguro ang hampaslupa who can eat three times a day and have fresh vegetables and fruits to boot at may tinolang manok pa to enjoy a sumptious dinner.

Literally speaking hampas lupa means strike the ground. Nabubuhay ba kami na buong maghapon na pinupulpos ang lupa? What is wrong with that?  Nagkakalyo man ang kamay namin sa paghampas ng lupa that doesn't mean ... we are starving ... dahil sa sipag namin ... kumakaway si Jose Abad Santos Josefa Llanes Escoda at ang barkadang si Vicente Lim. At sa langit naman nakangiting may bendisyon kami mula kay Benigno at Cory Aquino. 

Huwag magmamaktol tol. I'd rather have calloused hands being a hampas lupa ... than having mala-sutlang kamay pero puno naman ng utang.

No offense meant.