Category: World of words

PHRASES
Dean Koorey

Q&A: “Rule of thumb” origin

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re all thumbs… Q: Hey

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TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: The origin of “salty”

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s the life of brine…

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Why do we say it's raining cats and dogs?
PHRASES
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Why do we say “it’s raining cats and dogs”?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we have a pet project…

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REGIME vs REGIMEN
WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Regime vs Regimen

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we have exceptions and rules…

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Fair vs fare
WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Fair vs fare

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s all fair game… Q:

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World of words
Australian Writers' Centre Team

42 inspiring quotes, mantras or words to live by

Recently, we asked our AWC community to share their favourite ‘mantra’ or words that inspire them each day. Having your own mission statement with which you live your life can be a powerful thing – highly recommended! A huge thank you to ALL of you who sent us your phrases,

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Why is it a neck of the woods?
PHRASES
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Why is it “a neck of the woods”?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. Neck minnit… Q: Hi AWC, I’ve been

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World of words
Australian Writers' Centre Team

What’s YOUR inspiration?

Here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we often teach the importance of harnessing moments of inspiration to spark your storytelling. These are a valuable and renewable resource – not only powering your writing, but also your own life’s story. Because just like a novel, sometimes your life needs moments of inspiration to

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Why do cats have nine lives?
TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Why do cats have nine lives?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s cats and curiosity… Q:

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Where does Larrikin come from?
TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: The origin of “larrikin”

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s larrikinship… Q: Hi AWC,

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Is it stamping or stomping ground?
TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Stamping ground vs stomping ground

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re stomp collecting… Q: Hi

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Why is it called an Indian summer?
TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Why is it called an “Indian summer”?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re having lazy, hazy days

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Why are they called rose-coloured glasses
TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Why ‘rose-coloured glasses’?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re coming up roses… Q:

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Origin of cut to the chase
PHRASES
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Origin of ‘cut to the chase’

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, cutting and chasing… Q: Hi

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Where does Molotov cocktail come from?
TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Origin of ‘molotov cocktail’

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, can you feel the Molotov

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WORDS
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Quash vs squash

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we’re awash with squash, by

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where does the Mexican standoff and Mexican wave come from?
TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: The origin of the Mexican standoff and Mexican wave

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, once upon a time in

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Where does doggie bag come from?
TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: The origin of the “doggie bag”

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, it’s a dog’s dinner… Q:

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TERMS EXPLAINED
Dean Koorey

Q&A: Why do we use “zzz” for sleep?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, we need beauty sleep… Q:

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Explore our top 10 Q&As of the year
World of words
Australian Writers' Centre Team

Top 10 Q&As of 2021

Q: Hey, it’s the end of 2021! A: Somehow, yes. Q: What a year. A: It was a year, that’s true. Q: So, they want us to lock down our 10 favourite Q&As of 2021. A: Please don’t say “lock down”. Q: Choose? Select? Curate? Throw darts at a wall?

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