rachel quin

VAR, planebae & a peng sort: July’s Words in the News

A repeat of The Beast from the East might bring blessed relief to many parts of the country, as the hot topic (no pun intended) this month was definitely #HeatwaveUK. Lush green fields are a thing of the past, as the latest satellite images from space show a burnt… Read More

The etymology behind 4 eggs-ellent Springtime words

With the wreckage of many chocolate eggs behind us and some spring weather finally on the horizon, you might wonder where this tradition of sharing brightly wrapped sweet treats and talking about giant benevolent bunnies comes from? We’ve explored the diverse etymology of 4 eggs-ellent words associated with spring. Read More

The language of love: 5 ways to express your love on Valentine’s Day

In the words of Shakespeare, ‘speak low if you speak love’. Or shout it from the rooftops, whichever you prefer. The most romantic day of the year is upon us, and if you’re celebrating with loved ones this Valentine’s Day, it’s time to pick up your pen and let your… Read More

Unlocking Mandarin with Paul Noble

This autumn best-selling language expert Paul Noble, author of the Unlocking language series, will release an exciting new title that will help you unlock Mandarin. We sent one of the Collins team for a one-to-one learning experience with the man himself, and here’s how they found part one of the… Read More

Beat Blue Monday with 10 words to describe happiness

It’s official, experts have declared Monday 15th January 2018 ‘Blue Monday’, the glummest day of the year. The triple threat of extreme winter weather, a strained post-Christmas bank account and the back-to-work feeling is believed to make you feel gloomier than usual. But don’t worry, we believe grey… Read More

These are not the words you are looking for: Collins’ Guide to Star Wars terminology

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… it’s been 40 years since Star Wars first hit the big screen and with the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we’ve decided to explore the Star Wars universe for intergalactic words that feature in Collins Dictionary. Read on,… Read More

Mistletoe & wassail! 6 word treats to savour this festive season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! From wassailing to jolly Kris Kringle, the holiday season comes with its own festive selection of words and phrases. Dig into the true etymological meaning of Christmas, plus five more festive word treats to mull over. Christmas As you may… Read More

A right royal affair! 12 regal words to add to your vocabulary

With the royal engagement of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, plus the latest season of The Crown now available on Netflix, the royal family is a popular topic of conversation. We’ve searched this noble kingdom for all the royal terminology you need to know, just in time for the… Read More

#WorldHelloDay – How to say hello in 15 languages

A little Twitter bird told us that it’s #WorldHelloDay on November 21st! To celebrate, we’ve put together a quick guide to saying hello in 15 languages. How many can you learn? 1. Spanish – ¡Hola! 2. French – Bonjour 3. German – Hallo 4. Italian – Ciao 5. Mandarin Chinese… Read More