To cross the Rubicon

October 4, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

𝗧𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 means to make a decision, or take a course of action, or decisive step, which once embarked upon cannot be altered, and from which there can be no turning back or opportunity to change one’s mind. The phrase arose from the action of Julius Caesar, in 49 BC, when he was ordered to disband his army. Instead of doing so he led his dedicate legion across the shallow river Rubicon, which bounded his Gallic province in northern Italy, and marched against Rome, exclaming ‘the die is cast’. This brought about what amounted to a declaration of war against the Senate.

Fortunately for Caesar, his decision was successful and he became master of the Roman world.

P.S: To learn all politics through the Romans has evolved me into accepting of all the manipulation in this world and understand people/power better.

Astrolabe

October 2, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

The need to create a precise calendar for Muslim religious observances and pinpoint the direction of Mecca for prayers energized the fields of maths and astronomy. To measure the position of celestial bodies, Muslims perfected a Greek invention, the handheld Astrolabe. Author of a pioneering 9th-century treatise on algebra, Persian mathematical astronomer Al-Khawrizmi introduced Hindu numerals (and zero), which came to be called Arabic numerals. The word “algorithm” comes from his name.

P.S: Algorithms attracts one’s mind to focus on a problem delicately and deeply.

To bury one’s head in the sand

September 27, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

ᴛᴏ ʙᴜʀʏ ᴏɴᴇ’ꜱ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴀɴᴅ is to refuse to take any notice of a difficulty or problem; to pretend that it does not exist, or think it will go away, or solve itself. The expression is based on the habit of the ostrich which is reputed to bury its head in sand when pursued and in danger, in belief that it cannot be seen.

The ostrich, which is the largest flightless bird of Africa, up to 9ft in height, does not, in fact, do any such thing.

Despite their size, and their weight of around 136kg, ostriches are extremely agile. When they sense the approach of predators they bend their necks parallel to the ground to listen intently and if in danger, they are able to escape running away at speeds of up to 40 mph.

They probably give the impression that they bury their heads when they are seen bending their necks, and listening close to the ground, or when attending the eggs in their nests, which consists of a simple depression scraped in the sand.

P.S – so concerned, though being buried is a better choice at times..

To eat humble pie

September 24, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴛ ʜᴜᴍʙʟᴇ ᴘɪᴇ means to be prepared to suffer humiliation by admitting that one is wrong, whether one believes this to be so or not, and to apologise for what one has done or said.

The expression probably arose from medieval dining customs. The choicest meat was served to the master of the household, his family and guests and the less desirable were given to the staff, baked in the form of pies

Caught Napping

September 22, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 is to be found asleep and taken unawares. ‘Nap’ comes from the Saxon 𝙆𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣 meaning to doze or sleep lightly or briefly, especially by day.

Such short naps are also known as ‘cat naps’ as cats frequently indulge in them, but several other animals have this habit, and can be said to have been ‘caught napping’ while doing so.

Many birds have been observed flying far out at sea at night; when these birds have to fly over vast areas of sea, where they cannot land, they stay on the wing all night.

Some birds have been observed to fly without landing for 60 and 90 hours, and they even ‘cat nap’ during flight.

P.S: I am trying to dig my memory to find all those times when I was caught napping or taken a sweet cat nap. Happy catnapping!!

Told sub rosa

September 19, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

***Told sub rosa (under the rose)*** Anything told sub rosa (under the rose) is spoken in strictest confidence and must not be repeated.
The rose in question is the white rose which has for long been the emblem of silence.

Whenever a white rose was hung above the banqueting table, no matter what was said or whatever the company, no secrets revealed were ever to be repeated. The custom originated with the Romans and spread to England, where it was widely used during the days of chivalry. It persisted until Victorian times when the living rose was replaced by a plaster motif carved in the ceilings of dining-rooms, many of which can still be seen today.

Before one can say Jack Robinson

September 18, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 is an 18th century phrase meaning immediately or very quickly, and is said to refer to an erratic gentleman of that name who rushed around to visit his neighbours, rang the front door bell, and then changed his mind and dashed off before the servant had time to announce his name.

To take a leaf out of someone’s book

September 17, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

P.S: If you are viewing this, then, you have taken a leaf from me…some part of me in you?

Salad days

September 16, 2020October 10, 2020 | Masuma

Shakespeare mentions these in Antony & Cleopatra (Act 1, Scene 5)

“𝔐𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔩𝔞𝔡 𝔡𝔞𝔶𝔰, 𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔫 ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔧𝔲𝔡𝔤𝔢𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱”.

The reference is to the years of inexperienced youth – green is the fresh colour of young vegetables used in salads, and represents anyone who is young and lacking in experience. This also accounts for the use of the terms ‘green’ and ‘greenhorn’ for anyone considered to be a novice, raw hand, or simpleton.

P.S: and salad is delicious with the right dressing of course.

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where you feel words, visually!

Author: Masuma