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These are often called Janus words, after Janus, the Roman god of doors and beginnings. (January, the first month of the year, is named for him.) 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Among other things, he served as director of Penguin USA’s reference books operation, edited the Bulletin of The Authors Guild, wrote a column about American words and phrases for American Heritage magazine, and assisted William Safire on the last edition of Safire’s Political Dictionary. His book titles include Rawson’s Dictionary of Euphemisms & Other Doubletalk; Wicked Words, which is the opposite of Euphemisms in that it tells you everything you might want to know about so-called “bad” words, and Devious Derivations, a book about folk etymologies. He also is the author of Unwritten Laws: The Unofficial Rules of Life as Handed Down by Murphy and other Sages and he co-authored with Hillier Krieghbaum An Investment in Knowledge, a history-study of a National Science Foundation program for training teachers of science and mathematics. Rawson has collaborated with his wife, Margaret Miner, on four dictionaries of quotations: The Oxford Dictionary of American Quotations, The New International Dictionary of Quotations, A Dictionary of Quotations from the Bible, and A Dictionary of Quotations from Shakespeare. He also writes a blog, focusing mainly on language, for The Huffington Post.","sameAs":["http://hughrawson.wordpress.com"],"url":"https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/hughrawson/"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//secure.gravatar.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//stats.wp.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts-api.wp.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//widgets.wp.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//jetpack.wordpress.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s0.wp.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//public-api.wordpress.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//0.gravatar.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//1.gravatar.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//2.gravatar.com' /> <link rel='preconnect' href='//i0.wp.com' /> <link rel='preconnect' href='//c0.wp.com' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="About Words - Cambridge Dictionary blog » Feed" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="About Words - Cambridge Dictionary blog » Comments Feed" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/comments/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="About Words - Cambridge Dictionary blog » Janus Words – Two-faced English Comments Feed" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/feed/" /> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.7.1"}}; /*! 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hentry category-the-english-language"> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <header class="entry-header"> <h1 class="entry-title">Janus Words – Two-faced English</h1> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="posted-on">On <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/" rel="bookmark"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2013-07-01T07:00:03+01:00">July 1, 2013</time><time class="updated" datetime="2013-06-28T16:30:04+01:00">June 28, 2013</time></a></span><span class="byline"> By <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/hughrawson/">hughrawson</a></span></span><span class="cat-links">In <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/category/the-english-language/" rel="category tag">the English language</a></span> </div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <p>By <a href="http://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/hugh-rawson/" target="_blank">Hugh Rawson</a></p> <p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/hugh.jpg"><img data-recalc-dims="1" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" data-attachment-id="2407" data-permalink="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/06/12/asadfarewell/hugh/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/hugh.jpg?fit=353%2C471&ssl=1" data-orig-size="353,471" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="Hugh" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/hugh.jpg?fit=225%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/hugh.jpg?fit=353%2C471&ssl=1" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2407" alt="Hugh" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/hugh.jpg?resize=224%2C300" width="224" height="300" /></a>As if reading and writing English is not difficult enough, the language includes a number of words with opposite meanings within themselves. These are often called<b> Janus words</b>, after Janus, the Roman god of doors and beginnings. (January, the first month of the year, is named for him.) Janus usually was represented in art as having two bearded faces that faced in opposite directions, as do doors — and as do <b>Janus words</b>.</p> <p>Among the most commonly encountered <b>Janus words </b>are <b>cleave</b>, <b>hew</b>, and <b>sanction</b>. For example, one can be said <b>to cleave</b> a block of wood, meaning to split it, or <b>to cleave</b> to one’s principles, meaning to cling to them. <b>Hew</b> is almost synonymous in both senses. When a lumberjack <b>hews</b> a tree, he is cutting it down, but a politician who <b>hews</b> to a party platform, or a party line, is adhering closely to it. (<b>Party line</b>, by the way, usually is associated with the Communist Party, but is a lot older: Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri used it in a political context in a memoir published in 1854.) <b>Sanction</b>, meanwhile, may refer either to formal approval or permission, as in “Some states now sanction gay marriage,” or to an official ban, penalty, or deterrent, as in “The Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Japan’s biggest organized-crime syndicate, known as the yakuza” (<i>New York Times</i>, Feb. 24, 2012).<span id="more-2382"></span></p> <p>Other <b>Janus words</b> – and this is just a selection – include <b>to scan</b>, meaning either to look carefully (“The captain scanned the horizon with binoculars”) or to glance quickly at (“She scanned the report in a few minutes”); <b>to peruse</b>, with similar senses, meaning both to read or examine carefully and to look at or read casually without much attention to detail; <b>inflammable</b>, easy to burn, and an especially treacherous term since the <b>in-</b> prefix is sometimes considered to be a negative, with the result that the highly combustible word is understood as meaning “not flammable,” and <b>to trip</b>, to catch one’s foot and stumble or, conversely, to step along nimbly (“me and Mamie O’Rourke, Tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York,” lyric, <i>The Sidewalks of New York</i>, 1894).</p> <p>For <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/connoisseur" title="connoisseur definition" target="_blank">connoisseurs</a> of language, an especially delicious <b>J-word</b> is the use of <b>oversight</b> when referring to congressional committees that are supposed to exercise <b>oversight</b>, meaning watchful <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/supervision?q=supervision" title="supervision definition" target="_blank">supervision</a> of governmental agencies. But an <b>oversight</b> also is a careless omission or mistake. After revelation in 1975 of lapses by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in reining in the Central Intelligence Agency, Theodore Sorensen, onetime speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy, noted that “The word ‘oversight’ has two meanings, and they chose the wrong one.”</p> <p>The <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/wordplay?q=wordplay" title="wordplay definition" target="_blank">wordplay</a> that characterizes slang also exploits Janus effects. For example <b>bad</b> can stand for “very good, excellent, wonderful, sexy” in different contexts. This usage is older than you might think. The earliest example of <b>bad</b> in a good sense in J. E. Lighter’s monumental but sadly as-yet unfinished <i>Historical Dictionary of American Slang</i> comes from 1897. It didn’t become common until much later, however. In <i>Manchild in the Promised Land</i>, a <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/memoir?q=memoir" title="memoir definition" target="_blank">memoir</a> about coming of age in Harlem in the 1950s, Claude Brown recalled at one point: “The slang had changed. . . . when somebody would say something about a bad cat, they would mean he was good. Somebody would say, ‘That was some bad pot,’ meaning it was good.”</p> <p>Variations on this theme include <b>not bad</b>, <b>not half bad</b>, and <b>not so bad</b>, which translate as “good,” “pretty good,” or, depending on intonation — “Not bad!” — as “very good.” Thus, a <i>New York Times</i> reporter, when presented with a generous slice of fruitcake, figuratively <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lick-your-lips?q=lick+your+lips" title="lick your lips definition" target="_blank">licked his lips</a>, acknowledging that “While unlikely to win the hearts and minds of those born after the so-called Greatest Generation, it was, to be sure, not bad. Not bad at all” (March 9, 2013).</p> <p>Even worse than <b>bad</b> is <b>wicked</b>, which is truly evil, but also is a <b>Janus word </b>in some contexts, meaning “really good, excellent, wonderful.” <b>Wicked</b> seems to have acquired its “good” side more recently than did <b>bad</b>. The oldest example of the positive sense of the word in the historically organized <i>Oxford English Dictionary</i> is from the jazz age: “Tell’em to play ‘Admiration’! shouted Sloane. . . . Phoebe and I are going to shake a wicked calf” (F. Scott Fitzgerald, <i>This Side of Paradise</i>, 1920).</p> <p><b>Wicked</b> may also be used as an <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/intensifier?q=intensifier" title="intensifier definition" target="_blank">intensifier</a>, signifying “very, extremely,” as in a complimentary review of a book for young adults: “Even if ‘Gorgeous’ . . . never quite realizes its full potential, it is still a wicked good time” (<i>New York Times Book Review</i>, May 12, 2013).</p> <p>Similar to <b>Janus words</b> are what might be called <b>Janus sentences</b>, which have been constructed, usually deliberately, to be so <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/ambiguous?q=ambiguous" title="ambiguous definition" target="_blank">ambiguous</a> that opposing meanings can be read into them. These are especially useful when one is asked to write a letter of recommendation and wants to be honest but not to risk being sued for <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/slander_1?q=slander" title="slander definition" target="_blank">slander</a>. For example, “You’ll be lucky to get Jones to work for you” could be understood to mean that Jones will be a fine employee – or that once employed, he’ll hardly ever do any work. “You’ll never catch Jones <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/goof-off" title="goof off definition" target="_blank">goofing off</a> or playing computer games” may just mean that Jones is too smart to be caught. Then there is the book review credited to Dorothy Parker: “It is not a novel to be dismissed lightly.” She added, however: “It should be thrown aside with great force.”</p> <p>Meanwhile, I am awaiting the day when some dear friend tells me: “I shall lose no time reading your next Cambridge post.”</p> <p>Hmmm.</p> <p><em>This is the second of two posts published following Hugh’s sad death at the start of June. We publish them now with the approval of his family, as we believe it is what he would have wanted.</em></p> <div class="sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled"><div class="robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon sd-sharing"><h3 class="sd-title">Share this:</h3><div class="sd-content"><ul><li class="share-facebook"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-shared="sharing-facebook-2382" class="share-facebook sd-button share-icon no-text" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/?share=facebook" target="_blank" title="Click to share on Facebook" ><span></span><span class="sharing-screen-reader-text">Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)</span></a></li><li class="share-twitter"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-shared="sharing-twitter-2382" class="share-twitter sd-button share-icon no-text" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/?share=twitter" target="_blank" title="Click to share on Twitter" ><span></span><span class="sharing-screen-reader-text">Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)</span></a></li><li class="share-reddit"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-shared="" class="share-reddit sd-button share-icon no-text" href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/?share=reddit" target="_blank" title="Click to share on Reddit" ><span></span><span class="sharing-screen-reader-text">Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)</span></a></li><li class="share-email"><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-shared="" class="share-email sd-button share-icon no-text" href="mailto:?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Janus%20Words%20-%20Two-faced%20English&body=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionaryblog.cambridge.org%2F2013%2F07%2F01%2Fjanus-words-two-faced-english%2F&share=email" target="_blank" title="Click to email a link to a friend" data-email-share-error-title="Do you have email set up?" data-email-share-error-text="If you're having problems sharing via email, you might not have email set up for your browser. 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class="sd-title">Like this:</h3><div class='likes-widget-placeholder post-likes-widget-placeholder' style='height: 55px;'><span class='button'><span>Like</span></span> <span class="loading">Loading...</span></div><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> <footer class="entry-footer"> </footer> </div> </article> <nav class="navigation post-navigation" aria-label="Posts"> <h2 class="screen-reader-text">Post navigation</h2> <div class="nav-links"><div class="nav-previous"><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/new-words-1-july-2013/" rel="prev"><span class="meta-nav">Previous</span> <h4>New words – 1 July 2013</h4></a></div><div class="nav-next"><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/03/just-a-sliver/" rel="next"><span class="meta-nav">Next</span> <h4>Just a sliver!</h4></a></div></div> </nav> <div id="comments" class="comments-area"> <div class="comments-wrapper"> <h2 class="comments-title"> 17 thoughts on “<span>Janus Words – Two-faced English</span>” </h2> <ol class="comment-list"> <li class="pingback even thread-even depth-1" id="comment-7539"> <p>Pingback: <a href="http://blog.terminologiaetc.it/2013/03/12/parole-con-significati-contrari/" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Terminologia etc. » » Enantiosemia: un ospite pauroso</a> </p> </li> <li id="comment-7540" class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-7540" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cb2cd339339f5d4c99d3cdca5af56cc5?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cb2cd339339f5d4c99d3cdca5af56cc5?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">hasmukh</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>interesting indeed</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-7540-6743860dd5b89' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=7540&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-7540-6743860dd5b89' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-7540-6743860dd5b89'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-7540"> <time datetime="2013-07-01T14:14:55+01:00"> July 1, 2013 at 2:14 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-7540" data-commentid="7540" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-7540" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to hasmukh" aria-label="Reply to hasmukh">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-7547" class="comment even thread-even depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-7547" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/afb83b8cd32062b732ee3ef84a8acbac?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/afb83b8cd32062b732ee3ef84a8acbac?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Dharmendra</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Soon after reading a few lines of this post, I made up my mind to contact the writer and learn from him. When I read further, I was cock sure I wouldn’t be able to keep from writing to him as soon as I finished reading the blog. But alas…I wish I hadn’t read the last paragraph.<br /> May his soul rest in peace.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-7547-6743860dd623d' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=7547&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-7547-6743860dd623d' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-7547-6743860dd623d'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-7547"> <time datetime="2013-07-02T04:50:20+01:00"> July 2, 2013 at 4:50 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-7547" data-commentid="7547" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-7547" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Dharmendra" aria-label="Reply to Dharmendra">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-7548" class="comment odd alt thread-odd thread-alt depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-7548" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/260faec2b55d20e8d26606fc5c0fe9d4?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/260faec2b55d20e8d26606fc5c0fe9d4?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn"><a href="http://gothamguide.wordpress.com" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">gothamguide</a></b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>It is a melancholy delight to have this post, post mortem. </p> <p>I would add two points: The use of “wicked” (with the emphasis on the last syllable, by the way) as an intensifier is largely limited to New England in general and Boston in particular. See, for instance, the film “Good Will Hunting.” It’s wicked good.</p> <p>Also, political activists sometimes create “Janus words” by embracing a demeaning term as an object of pride. A prime case in point is “queer,” a term long used to insult homosexuals, but one embraced by some gay activists as a badge of honor, a symbolic rejection of outdated stereotypes. Using these words requires a close attention to context: some gay men are insulted by “queer”; others (generally younger and more radical in their views) welcome it.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-7548-6743860dd68bd' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=7548&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-7548-6743860dd68bd' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-7548-6743860dd68bd'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-7548"> <time datetime="2013-07-02T06:47:31+01:00"> July 2, 2013 at 6:47 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-7548" data-commentid="7548" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-7548" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to gothamguide" aria-label="Reply to gothamguide">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-7958" class="comment even thread-even depth-1 parent"> <article id="div-comment-7958" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/acb0d5cb97fe291c56552033aad079df?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/acb0d5cb97fe291c56552033aad079df?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn">Nariman Momen</b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>I would say that these words ,like the previous ones, become popular day by day.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-7958-6743860dd6ff2' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=7958&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-7958-6743860dd6ff2' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-7958-6743860dd6ff2'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-7958"> <time datetime="2013-08-11T15:02:29+01:00"> August 11, 2013 at 3:02 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-7958" data-commentid="7958" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-7958" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Nariman Momen" aria-label="Reply to Nariman Momen">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> <ol class="children"> <li id="comment-92079" class="comment odd alt depth-2"> <article id="div-comment-92079" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/18b2469379d4138a9b9065e03bf0c6ab?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/18b2469379d4138a9b9065e03bf0c6ab?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn"><a href="http://alittlecuir.wordpress.com" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">alittlecuir</a></b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>I just came across this article. I was wondering if homophones could be considered Janus words. For example, when Donald Trump said that he would make America “great” again, is it possible that he meant “grate”?<br /> I’m curious, but not dying to find out. It’s not a Janus word.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-92079-6743860dd7621' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=92079&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-92079-6743860dd7621' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-92079-6743860dd7621'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-92079"> <time datetime="2019-03-16T09:44:59+00:00"> March 16, 2019 at 9:44 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-92079" data-commentid="92079" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-92079" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to alittlecuir" aria-label="Reply to alittlecuir">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> </ol> </li> <li class="pingback even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="comment-45614"> <p>Pingback: <a href="https://shukrimahmoodmohamed.wordpress.com/2015/09/24/janus-words-two-faced-english/" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Janus Words – Two-faced English | shukrimahmoodmohamed</a> </p> </li> <li id="comment-56782" class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-56782" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2537bd9d0380ff331ed660c7dfb497c7?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2537bd9d0380ff331ed660c7dfb497c7?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn"><a href="http://kuttanlifeissues.wordpress.com" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Kuttanlifeissues</a></b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Reblogged this on <a href="https://kuttanlifeissues.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/janus-words-two-faced-english/" rel="nofollow">Kuttanlifeissues</a>.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-56782-6743860dd7ca1' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=56782&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-56782-6743860dd7ca1' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-56782-6743860dd7ca1'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-56782"> <time datetime="2016-09-14T02:53:57+01:00"> September 14, 2016 at 2:53 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-56782" data-commentid="56782" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-56782" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Kuttanlifeissues" aria-label="Reply to Kuttanlifeissues">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li class="pingback even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="comment-56783"> <p>Pingback: <a href="https://kuttanlifeissues.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/janus-words-two-faced-english-2/" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Janus Words – Two-faced English – Kuttanlifeissues</a> </p> </li> <li class="pingback odd alt thread-even depth-1" id="comment-130418"> <p>Pingback: <a href="https://getproficiency.wordpress.com/2020/02/17/new-words-17-february-2020-about-words-cambridge-dictionaries-online-blog/" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">New words – 17 February 2020 – About Words – Cambridge Dictionaries Online blog – Get Proficiency in English</a> </p> </li> <li class="pingback even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="comment-151762"> <p>Pingback: <a href="https://www.newswars.com/why-congressional-oversight-of-the-bureaucracy-is-no-such-thing/" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Why Congressional “Oversight” of the Bureaucracy Is No Such Thing – NewsWars</a> </p> </li> <li class="pingback odd alt thread-even depth-1" id="comment-151786"> <p>Pingback: <a href="https://stormcolleton.com/2020/05/27/why-congressional-oversight-of-the-bureaucracy-is-no-such-thing/" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Why Congressional “Oversight” of the Bureaucracy Is No Such Thing – Church Security</a> </p> </li> <li class="pingback even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1" id="comment-151808"> <p>Pingback: <a href="https://libertarianguide.com/36872/why-congressional-oversight-of-the-bureaucracy-is-no-such-thing/" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Why Congressional "Oversight" of the Bureaucracy Is No Such Thing - Libertarian Guide</a> </p> </li> <li class="pingback odd alt thread-even depth-1" id="comment-152125"> <p>Pingback: <a href="https://snbchf.com/2020/05/galles-why-congressional-oversight-bureaucracy/" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Why Congressional "Oversight" of the Bureaucracy Is No Such Thing snbchf.com</a> </p> </li> <li id="comment-244480" class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-244480" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2757cac9a40fd1605d7402c5152866cf?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2757cac9a40fd1605d7402c5152866cf?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn"><a href="http://jianlye.wordpress.com" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">jianlye</a></b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>It is the first time I know this phrase Janus words. iteresting and I thank you sir.</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-244480-6743860dd850c' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=244480&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-244480-6743860dd850c' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-244480-6743860dd850c'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-244480"> <time datetime="2022-04-27T23:29:09+01:00"> April 27, 2022 at 11:29 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-244480" data-commentid="244480" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-244480" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to jianlye" aria-label="Reply to jianlye">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-246527" class="comment odd alt thread-even depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-246527" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5851db546d9e193207c23c28506590ec?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/5851db546d9e193207c23c28506590ec?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn"><a href="http://gravatar.com/n6mac41717" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">n6mac41717</a></b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>“The captain was sober today…”</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-246527-6743860dd8b48' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=246527&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-246527-6743860dd8b48' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-246527-6743860dd8b48'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-246527"> <time datetime="2022-08-21T18:41:22+01:00"> August 21, 2022 at 6:41 pm </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-246527" data-commentid="246527" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-246527" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to n6mac41717" aria-label="Reply to n6mac41717">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> <li id="comment-251750" class="comment even thread-odd thread-alt depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-251750" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3f9737057512a277b28d1d3fc18c6e9b?s=60&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3f9737057512a277b28d1d3fc18c6e9b?s=120&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-60 photo' height='60' width='60' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <b class="fn"><a href="http://Ebl" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Musa</a></b> </div> </footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>Good Besnis</p> <div class='jetpack-comment-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-comment-wrapper-18458032-251750-6743860dd9144' data-src='https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=18458032&comment_id=251750&origin=dictionaryblog.cambridge.org&obj_id=18458032-251750-6743860dd9144' data-name='like-comment-frame-18458032-251750-6743860dd9144'> <div class='likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes-widget-placeholder comment-likes'><span class='loading'>Loading...</span></div> <div class='comment-likes-widget jetpack-likes-widget comment-likes'><span class='comment-like-feedback'></span><span class='sd-text-color'></span><a class='sd-link-color'></a></div> </div> </div> <div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#comment-251750"> <time datetime="2024-06-20T11:47:36+01:00"> June 20, 2024 at 11:47 am </time> </a> <span class="reply"><a rel="nofollow" class="comment-reply-link" href="#comment-251750" data-commentid="251750" data-postid="2382" data-belowelement="div-comment-251750" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Musa" aria-label="Reply to Musa">Reply</a></span> </div> </article> </li> </ol> <div id="respond" class="comment-respond"> <h3 id="reply-title" class="comment-reply-title">Leave a Reply<small><a rel="nofollow" id="cancel-comment-reply-link" href="/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/#respond" style="display:none;">Cancel reply</a></small></h3> <form id="commentform" class="comment-form"> <iframe title="Comment Form" 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href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/13/a-safe-pair-of-hands-newspaper-idioms/" title="A safe pair of hands (Newspaper idioms)" class="bump-view" data-bump-view="tp"><img loading="lazy" width="200" height="200" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Safe-pair-of-hands_2163791452-e1728309439260.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Safe-pair-of-hands_2163791452-e1728309439260.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Safe-pair-of-hands_2163791452-e1728309439260.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Safe-pair-of-hands_2163791452-e1728309439260.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Safe-pair-of-hands_2163791452-e1728309439260.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Safe-pair-of-hands_2163791452-e1728309439260.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 4x" alt="A safe pair of hands (Newspaper idioms)" data-pin-nopin="true"/></a></div><div class="widget-grid-view-image"><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2018/11/29/the-peoples-word-of-2018/" title="The People's Word of 2018" class="bump-view" data-bump-view="tp"><img loading="lazy" width="200" height="200" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cambridge-word-of-the-year-image-file-v2.png?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cambridge-word-of-the-year-image-file-v2.png?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cambridge-word-of-the-year-image-file-v2.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cambridge-word-of-the-year-image-file-v2.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cambridge-word-of-the-year-image-file-v2.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cambridge-word-of-the-year-image-file-v2.png?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 4x" alt="The People's Word of 2018" data-pin-nopin="true"/></a></div><div class="widget-grid-view-image"><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/" title="Nobody blames you: phrases for offering reassurance" class="bump-view" data-bump-view="tp"><img loading="lazy" width="200" height="200" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nobody-blames-you_1497595879-e1727211216513.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 4x" alt="Nobody blames you: phrases for offering reassurance" data-pin-nopin="true"/></a></div><div class="widget-grid-view-image"><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2015/12/09/the-peoples-words-of-2015/" title="The People's Words of 2015" class="bump-view" data-bump-view="tp"><img loading="lazy" width="200" height="200" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/screen-shot-2015-12-09-at-12-32-01.png?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/screen-shot-2015-12-09-at-12-32-01.png?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/screen-shot-2015-12-09-at-12-32-01.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/screen-shot-2015-12-09-at-12-32-01.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 2x" alt="The People's Words of 2015" data-pin-nopin="true"/></a></div><div class="widget-grid-view-image"><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2019/11/04/cambridge-dictionarys-word-of-the-year-2019/" title="Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year 2019" class="bump-view" data-bump-view="tp"><img loading="lazy" width="200" height="200" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/upcycling_woty.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/upcycling_woty.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/upcycling_woty.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/upcycling_woty.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/upcycling_woty.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/upcycling_woty.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 4x" alt="Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year 2019" data-pin-nopin="true"/></a></div><div class="widget-grid-view-image"><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2020/07/08/are-idioms-that-use-black-and-white-offensive/" title="Are idioms that use ‘black’ and ‘white’ offensive?" class="bump-view" data-bump-view="tp"><img loading="lazy" width="200" height="200" src="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/black-and-white-1.png?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/black-and-white-1.png?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/black-and-white-1.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/black-and-white-1.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/black-and-white-1.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https://i0.wp.com/dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/black-and-white-1.png?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 4x" alt="Are idioms that use ‘black’ and ‘white’ offensive?" data-pin-nopin="true"/></a></div></div> </aside><aside id="authors-2" class="widget widget_authors"><h1 class="widget-title">Authors</h1><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/aezrac/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/26f314c4585b5bdb9d749f149ee7f10b?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/26f314c4585b5bdb9d749f149ee7f10b?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Ron Carter</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2011/12/14/a-few-words-on-corpus-linguistics-part-2/" title="A few words on corpus linguistics part 2">A few words on corpus linguistics part 2</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2011/12/12/a-few-words-on-corpus-linguistics/" title="A few words on corpus linguistics">A few words on corpus linguistics</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/cambridgewords/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aef1e4cb2fd31e8f50444ca18ada3b49?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aef1e4cb2fd31e8f50444ca18ada3b49?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Cambridge Words</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/20/cambridge-dictionary-word-of-the-year-2024/" title="Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024">Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/18/new-words-18-november-2024/" title="New words – 18 November 2024" aria-current="page">New words – 18 November 2024</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/colinjmcintosh/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50053df1e6dad3114823d445b2ffaa08?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/50053df1e6dad3114823d445b2ffaa08?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>colinjmcintosh</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2016/08/02/a-life-beyond-fiction/" title="A life beyond fiction">A life beyond fiction</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2016/07/26/whats-in-a-name/" title="What’s in a name?">What’s in a name?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/domcambridge/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0f327ac6616afccb2cad6596b5597928?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0f327ac6616afccb2cad6596b5597928?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Dom Glennon</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2014/11/26/countability-grammar-codes/" title="Countability – grammar codes">Countability – grammar codes</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2014/06/04/hairdryers-and-squeaky-bums-the-colourful-world-of-football-words/" title="Hairdryers and squeaky bums: the colourful world of football words">Hairdryers and squeaky bums: the colourful world of football words</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/drheikek/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ca0ebdcb2fdc28a6eeaf6b28ca63a6cb?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ca0ebdcb2fdc28a6eeaf6b28ca63a6cb?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Dr Heike Krüsemann</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2020/08/21/how-to-stay-motivated-during-the-pandemic-what-you-told-us-and-why-it-matters/" title="How to stay motivated during the pandemic: What you told us, and why it matters">How to stay motivated during the pandemic: What you told us, and why it matters</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/hughrawson/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b0b0435c3c567be5d0f6979e5d464be5?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b0b0435c3c567be5d0f6979e5d464be5?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>hughrawson</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/07/01/janus-words-two-faced-english/" title="Janus Words – Two-faced English">Janus Words – Two-faced English</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/06/24/yet-more-yiddish/" title="Yet More Yiddish">Yet More Yiddish</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/katewoodford/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bac5c241ed0266a1b470307bc436f58f?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Kate Woodford</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/13/a-safe-pair-of-hands-newspaper-idioms/" title="A safe pair of hands (Newspaper idioms)">A safe pair of hands (Newspaper idioms)</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/30/making-the-most-of-it-how-we-talk-about-using-opportunities/" title="Making the most of it (How we talk about using opportunities)">Making the most of it (How we talk about using opportunities)</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/lizwalter2/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4a29a1e94375522c0920818e6d4c4249?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4a29a1e94375522c0920818e6d4c4249?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Liz Walter</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/11/06/nobody-blames-you-phrases-for-offering-reassurance/" title="Nobody blames you: phrases for offering reassurance">Nobody blames you: phrases for offering reassurance</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/10/16/wise-brainy-or-astute-words-for-describing-intelligent-people/" title="Wise, brainy, or astute: words for describing intelligent people">Wise, brainy, or astute: words for describing intelligent people</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/patriciaferraz/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6cc62e6d9d2486f6f3e1d23e8ed1954c?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6cc62e6d9d2486f6f3e1d23e8ed1954c?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Patricia Ferraz</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/07/24/idioms-in-the-guernsey-literary-and-potato-peel-pie-society/" title="Putting a spanner in the works – Idioms in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society">Putting a spanner in the works – Idioms in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/07/17/idioms-in-the-thursday-murder-club/" title="In for a penny, in for a pound: Idioms in The Thursday Murder Club">In for a penny, in for a pound: Idioms in The Thursday Murder Club</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/pheacock/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e3a803c8f45bbf76eeaa384a0210bd5?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4e3a803c8f45bbf76eeaa384a0210bd5?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Paul Heacock</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2013/06/12/asadfarewell/" title="A sad farewell">A sad farewell</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2012/12/18/the-words-of-2012/" title="The words of 2012">The words of 2012</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/racheledf/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/13391686972a7e5cb25e9c3e7c977088?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/13391686972a7e5cb25e9c3e7c977088?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>racheledf</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2012/01/13/what-can-we-learn-from-emails/" title="What can we learn from emails?">What can we learn from emails?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/author/trevorbryden/"> <img alt='1' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c1bae3f8b5386d3c4e41bef30ba924e8?s=48&d=identicon&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c1bae3f8b5386d3c4e41bef30ba924e8?s=96&d=identicon&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-48 photo' height='48' width='48' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/> <strong>Trevor Bryden</strong></a><ul><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2012/04/17/mind-your-ps-and-qs/" title="Mind your p’s and q’s">Mind your p’s and q’s</a></li><li><a href="https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2012/02/27/what-makes-a-litter/" title="What makes a litter?">What makes a litter?</a></li></ul></li></ul></aside><aside id="twitter_timeline-3" class="widget widget_twitter_timeline"><h1 class="widget-title">Latest tweets</h1><a class="twitter-timeline" data-width="220" data-height="400" data-theme="light" 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