Language Lovers

The Fascinating Journey of the Word ‘Tariff’

Recent news headlines have been dominated by tariffs, and US president Donald Trump frequently refers to tariff as “the most beautiful word in the dictionary”. Have you ever wondered about the story behind the word? If we dig deeper, we find that this everyday economic term has a rich… Read More

Tartan Day and the language of tartan

Think Scotland, see tartan. From shortbread biscuit tins to carpets to the kilts of the Tartan Army, this pattern shouts ‘Scotland’ louder than any other nation’s symbol. And who among us has never owned a tartan travelling rug or picnic rug? It’s not every day, metaphorically, we give a… Read More

National Spinach Day

Eat largely of spinage The twenty-sixth of March is National Spinach Day, a lead-in to talking about one of my favourite vegetables – and that host of others that can bring joy to our tables. Well, ‘joy’ not just in my and Popeye’s opinion but in that of the Methodist… Read More

Words for World Wildlife Day

The third of March marks the twelfth international World Wildlife Day, set up by United Nations (UN) resolution in 2013. The date was chosen for a good reason: it’s the birthday of the 1973 signing of CITES, the landmark Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna… Read More

Love language: the vocabulary of romantic comedies

Love is in the air! With Valentine’s Day upon us and a brand-new Bridget Jones film set to grace our screens, it’s the perfect time of year to settle in with candles, your favourite food, and a classic romantic comedy. Romantic comedies, typically shortened to the much snappier romcoms,… Read More

Burns Night and Burns Suppers

Some hae meat and canna eat, This 25 January, as every year, people in Scotland, Britain and the worldwide Scottish diaspora will gather merrily to celebrate the birth date of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Though it’s a gathering now as jolly as any birthday party, the event started life… Read More

Braille at 200: Championing Tactile Literacy

4 January was World Braille Day in a year that marks the 200th anniversary of the invention of braille. Collins Dictionary joined forces with RNIB this week to recognise the importance of braille in making reading an experience that is open to everyone. As a bolshy teenager, sometime in the… Read More

Festive Traditions

Christmas is coming … Ah! British Christmas. So cosy, so nostalgic. What’s not to love about this time of year? Christmas cards and carols and Christmas trees and cake and plum pudding and turkey and cranberry sauce and mulled wine and kissing under the mistletoe and Boxing Day walks. And… Read More

Language and the book of life

During the final rallies of her election campaign, US presidential candidate Kamala Harris drew on one metaphor time and time again. She said that she was determined, or she saw a nation determined, ‘to turn the page on hatred and division’. It’s an effective rallying call. It certainly sounded positive,… Read More