HRVATSKA=CROATIA – HOW DID IT COME TO THIS WORD?

Croatian history seems somehow to be shrouded in mystery, despite strenuous efforts of the historians to find out with pinpoint accuracy which part of the globe our ancestors resided. No one seems too sure as to whether it was here or there down to the migrations. While one is of the opinion that we are from Iran, the others claim something else. According to Ferdo Siscic, one of the greatest Croatian historians, Croatians may really have its roots somewhere in the Caucasus, as does the word Hrvatska (pronounced /hrvacka/). The word Horovathos is traced on two stone inscriptions in Greek language and script (year 200 a.d.) found by the Black sea. What is interesting is that the name Chrowat (= Croat) appears in the region of northern Steiermark. There is a place called Kraubat to which the word Chrowat relates. What is more, in Corinthian there is a place called Kraut, which name is also derived from the Middle Age name Chrowat. If you want to find more, have a look at http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/et01.html#buga.

Next time I could explain the symbols on our flag. Isn’t it a great idea?
Have fun!

WHAT DO CHICKEN, GOOSE & DUCK HAVE IN COMMON

I today’s session, chicken, goose & duck will play a major role. Which one you can find below!

• duck soup - a task that does not require much effort: The exam was duck soup. I am sure that I did very well.




• kill the goose that lays the golden egg - to spoil/destroy something that is beneficial or makes a lot of money: My friends sold part of their business but it is the most profitable part. I think that they have killed the goose that lays the golden egg.




• chicken feed - a small sum of money: The money that I spent last night was chicken feed and I am not worried about it at all.

How to mince my word

Can you mince your word? Do you often burn the midnight oil? Find out!

1. DOT THE I´S AND CROSS THE T´S – used when somebody pays great attention to every detail of a task (used as a criticism): If we give this project to John, it will take forever for hr tends to dot the i´s and cross the t´s.


2. 
   BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL – used when somebody works until late in the night: Before an exam I used to burn the midnight oil.


3. 
   NOT MINCE ONE’S WORD – when somebody does not mince his/her word, the person speaks frankly and openly: I’m not going to mince my word. Your presentation was the worst I’ve yet to see.
   

IDIOMS

To learn for example three idioms a week is by far not an unreasonable imposition, is it? So let me start with the first three:
1) PUT SOMEBODY IN A PICTURE – if you put people in a picture, you inform them about something they should know: John was very puzzled about the recent events, until someone finally put him in the picture.
2) CLOSE BUT NOT CIGAR – used in a situation where something is almost correct but not exactly correct: A: You were so close to win the match. B: Yeah! Close but not cigar!
3) MAKE A KILLING – means to make a lot of money: She made a killing on the stock market.