French word of the week: laisser

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French word 'laisser'. Read More

National Backwards Day

Able was I ere I saw Elba.  !Day Backwards National of anniversary sixtieth the for piece this writing am I. That’s right. This day of fun and pranks, National Backwards Day, 31 January, intended to get children in particular thinking creatively and box proverbial the outside, was inaugurated in 3691. Read More

What’s the difference between borrow and lend?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: borrow and lend. borrow If you borrow something that belongs to someone else, you use it for a period of time and then return it. Could I borrow your car? I borrowed this book from the… Read More

7 top spots from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch

The last weekend in January sees the return of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, a project dubbed “the world’s largest wildlife survey”. Originally conceived as a collaboration with the BBC’s Blue Peter in 1979, the aim of the Big Garden Birdwatch is to encourage participants to set aside an hour… Read More

French word of the week: pareil

This series of weekly blogs takes a closer look at words from our French dictionaries. The word we're focusing on this week is the French word 'pareil'. Read More

What’s the difference between ashamed and embarrassed?

This week we are looking at two words which are sometimes confused: ashamed and embarrassed. ashamed If you are ashamed, you feel sorry about something you did wrong. He upset Dad, and he feels a bit ashamed. They were ashamed to admit that they had lied. Read More
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