It isn't very often that we get things just right on the first try. Usually the first draft of an essay, the first attempt at solving a puzzle, or even the first day at a new job doesn't turn out exactly the way it should. That is to be expected--we are learning things as we go. Perhaps you can take a step back and look at what is worth keeping and what needs to be changed. Unless you are lucky (or have low standards) making something that you can be proud of is an iterative process.
Sometimes the first attempt leaves so much to be desired that there is almost nothing to salvage. It's better to forget that it ever happened, sweep it under the carpet, and start again at the beginning. This week I tried to write an article for an engineering organization where I am a member. I wrote a first draft which I thought was pretty good. However, it came back with so many corrections and objections that I decided that it would be easier to start from scratch. That is, instead of changing a few words ir sentences, it would be easier to write a completely different article.
The idea of "starting from scratch" comes from the world of sports. Scratch was the starting point that was literally scratched into the ground. The boundary line in cricket and the line across which boxers would face one another were referred to as scratch. Eventually, the starting point of any race became known as "scratch". The term is also used in sports where weaker contestants are given a handicap. In a footrace, a contestant given a handicap would get to start five yards closer to the finish line. The stronger runner would have to start from scratch.
Over time the phrase took on the more general meaning of starting from the begninning. When you start from scratch you start without any previous work to build upon.
Starting from scratch doesn't have to be associated with failure; it can also be a sign of perseverance. When calamity, or diasaster strikes, some people lose everything. Imagine the people whose homes were knocked down by the earthquake in Haiti, or swept away by the tsunami in Southeast Asia. We can try to imagine but the attempt comes up short. The people who are able to endure the loss of their livelihood and family members and somehow not give up demonstrate that the human spirit is a lot stronger than it sometimes appears.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
As the Crow Flies
You may have noticed that crows have been in the news lately. New research is showing that these birds, which have always had a reputation for cleverness, may be even smarter than apes and monkeys. They are able to use tools, remember where they hide food, play tricks on each other, and even recognize human faces. Smart cookies! However, this week’s crow-related idiom doesn’t have anything to do with their intelligence. It is simply a reference to their ability to fly.
Even if crows are not quite as intelligent as humans, they do have us beat in one area: they are able to fly from Point A to Point B using the shortest route possible. If there is a big rocky hill in the way, or a forest full of thorn trees, we might have to walk around. A crow, however, would just fly over top. Therefore, the distance between one place and another along an imaginary straight line between them is called the distance as the crow flies. Of course there are many birds which would also use that route, but for some reason we always say, as the crow flies. Some birds fly in circles riding on thermals of hot air coming up from he ground, some birds flit from one flower to another, and many birds don’t fly at all. The crow flies in a straight line.
Because our highways and paths aren’t always in a straight line, there are different ways to calculate the distance between two places. For example, it may be five kilometres—or five clicks—along the path through the woods from my house to Grandma’s house. If we go by car, it may be six kilometres. But her house is actually only three kilometres away, as the crow flies.
Another way that we give distances is by the time it takes to get there. Out here on the prairies this is especially common. It makes you wonder if everyone has been brushing up on their Einstein. Physicists will try to explain how space and time are all part of the same continuum. Most people are thinking of something much more down to earth when they say that the next town is “one hour away.” They just mean that it will take one hour to get there by car. And yes, the car is the default instrument for measuring distances with time. If you are going to hoof it, or walk, then you need to specify that it is one hour away on foot.
Hopefully you can find an opportunity to use one of these distance-related idioms this week. If you see a crow, take the time to verify whether or not it is actually travelling in a straight line, as the crow flies.
Even if crows are not quite as intelligent as humans, they do have us beat in one area: they are able to fly from Point A to Point B using the shortest route possible. If there is a big rocky hill in the way, or a forest full of thorn trees, we might have to walk around. A crow, however, would just fly over top. Therefore, the distance between one place and another along an imaginary straight line between them is called the distance as the crow flies. Of course there are many birds which would also use that route, but for some reason we always say, as the crow flies. Some birds fly in circles riding on thermals of hot air coming up from he ground, some birds flit from one flower to another, and many birds don’t fly at all. The crow flies in a straight line.
Because our highways and paths aren’t always in a straight line, there are different ways to calculate the distance between two places. For example, it may be five kilometres—or five clicks—along the path through the woods from my house to Grandma’s house. If we go by car, it may be six kilometres. But her house is actually only three kilometres away, as the crow flies.
Another way that we give distances is by the time it takes to get there. Out here on the prairies this is especially common. It makes you wonder if everyone has been brushing up on their Einstein. Physicists will try to explain how space and time are all part of the same continuum. Most people are thinking of something much more down to earth when they say that the next town is “one hour away.” They just mean that it will take one hour to get there by car. And yes, the car is the default instrument for measuring distances with time. If you are going to hoof it, or walk, then you need to specify that it is one hour away on foot.
Hopefully you can find an opportunity to use one of these distance-related idioms this week. If you see a crow, take the time to verify whether or not it is actually travelling in a straight line, as the crow flies.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Let the Cat out of the Bag
When you have a secret, especially if it is a piece of particularly good news, it is hard to keep it bottled up inside. You have the power to make it public, and it is tempting to use that power. However, you probably do not have the power to undo your decision once you begin to talk. Once a secret is out in the open we can say that the cat is out of the bag.
If you have ever owned or handled a cat, you can imagine the difficulty involved in forcing it into a bag. Cats don't like to be forced into doing anything, and least of all if that something is being stuffed into a bag. If you were walking down the street with the bag in one hand, people would notice that something was wriggling inside, and they would be suspicious. They would be anxious for a look inside. If they did convince you to open the bag just a little, the cat would push its way out and bolt off in terror, and the bag would be empty.
Something very similar happened to me last summer. We had a guest staying at our apartment who was alergic to cats, so I arranged to take the cat to a friend's place. Rather than a bag, I carried him in a cardboard box. As I walked down the street with his food in one hand and the box in the other, it began to lurch and emit loud meows, drawing the attention of the bystanders on the street. He grew more and more frightened and soon managed to push one of his paws out of the box. Just before we got to my friend's place, he burst out of the box and ran towards the river. It was four days before I found him again, and he was quite shaken when I did manage to bring him home.
Just as I'm not good at keeping a real cat in a box, I also have trouble keeping the cat in the bag, metaphorically speaking. It is pretty obvious when I am hiding something. You could accuse me of wearing my heart on my sleeve. If I am happier, or sadder, than usual, people can quickly tell; once they ask what's wrong, I'm liable to let the cat out of the bag, or spill the beans (which means the same thing).
Another idiom that comes from the independance of cats is used to describe a situation where someone has to manage a number of different people or groups, all of whom have their own idea of where they want to go. We say that it is like herding cats. Unlike cows or sheep, cats are not naturally comfortable in large groups acting of one mind. Whether people are better compared with sheep or cats is of course to be determined on a case by case basis. There are certainly some times when the image of a "catherd" trying to herd cats feels very appropriate.
If you have ever owned or handled a cat, you can imagine the difficulty involved in forcing it into a bag. Cats don't like to be forced into doing anything, and least of all if that something is being stuffed into a bag. If you were walking down the street with the bag in one hand, people would notice that something was wriggling inside, and they would be suspicious. They would be anxious for a look inside. If they did convince you to open the bag just a little, the cat would push its way out and bolt off in terror, and the bag would be empty.
Something very similar happened to me last summer. We had a guest staying at our apartment who was alergic to cats, so I arranged to take the cat to a friend's place. Rather than a bag, I carried him in a cardboard box. As I walked down the street with his food in one hand and the box in the other, it began to lurch and emit loud meows, drawing the attention of the bystanders on the street. He grew more and more frightened and soon managed to push one of his paws out of the box. Just before we got to my friend's place, he burst out of the box and ran towards the river. It was four days before I found him again, and he was quite shaken when I did manage to bring him home.
Just as I'm not good at keeping a real cat in a box, I also have trouble keeping the cat in the bag, metaphorically speaking. It is pretty obvious when I am hiding something. You could accuse me of wearing my heart on my sleeve. If I am happier, or sadder, than usual, people can quickly tell; once they ask what's wrong, I'm liable to let the cat out of the bag, or spill the beans (which means the same thing).
Another idiom that comes from the independance of cats is used to describe a situation where someone has to manage a number of different people or groups, all of whom have their own idea of where they want to go. We say that it is like herding cats. Unlike cows or sheep, cats are not naturally comfortable in large groups acting of one mind. Whether people are better compared with sheep or cats is of course to be determined on a case by case basis. There are certainly some times when the image of a "catherd" trying to herd cats feels very appropriate.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Get Cold Feet
I’ve chosen a cold-themed idiom this week in honour of the below-normal temperatures we’ve been having.
Most people go about the day trying to make the best decisions possible, but everyone makes mistakes. Usually these decisions are minor, but sometimes we decide to take a big risk and step outside of our regular routine: finding a new job, moving to a new country, beginning a relationship, or starting a business venture, for example. All of these are big decisions, and they can be scary.
To get cold feet means to have second thoughts about taking a risk and starting something new. All of a sudden, you begin to doubt whether it is really a wise idea. If you really get cold feet, and the feelings are strong enough, you may back out completely.
If you have ever gone swimming in a pool or in the ocean, you may understand what the idiom is referring to. Before jumping into the water, most people will test the water with their feet. Sometimes the water is much colder than we imagined! Still, from experience most people know that once they get into the water, they get used to the temperature and are able to enjoy themselves. To get over the initial fear—the cold feet—we need to put mind over matter and go for it. Of course, sometimes it is smarter to act upon the feeling of cold feet. Sometimes the water is so cold that you might catch hypothermia and die. Getting cold feet before making a big decision is natural, but whether to put mind over matter and take the plunge must be decided on a case by case basis.
My cat likes to stand at the door and meow to be let outside. In the summer he runs out quickly, without much deliberation. As winter approaches and the weather gets colder, he usually gets cold feet after I open the door. Sometimes he still goes outside, only with less enthusiasm, but most of the time he simply turns around in disgust.
Some people talk about getting cold feet right before their wedding day. That wasn’t my experience—I didn’t have any second thoughts and to this day I don’t regret taking the plunge. However, we have all heard stories where either the bride or the groom run away right before the big day, leaving the would-be partner and all the guests in shock. That is a serious case of cold feet.
So, next time you have a friend who starts to doubt himself before making a big decision, you may not know whether or not to encourage him to proceed, but at least you have an idiom you can use to describe the feeling!
Most people go about the day trying to make the best decisions possible, but everyone makes mistakes. Usually these decisions are minor, but sometimes we decide to take a big risk and step outside of our regular routine: finding a new job, moving to a new country, beginning a relationship, or starting a business venture, for example. All of these are big decisions, and they can be scary.
To get cold feet means to have second thoughts about taking a risk and starting something new. All of a sudden, you begin to doubt whether it is really a wise idea. If you really get cold feet, and the feelings are strong enough, you may back out completely.
If you have ever gone swimming in a pool or in the ocean, you may understand what the idiom is referring to. Before jumping into the water, most people will test the water with their feet. Sometimes the water is much colder than we imagined! Still, from experience most people know that once they get into the water, they get used to the temperature and are able to enjoy themselves. To get over the initial fear—the cold feet—we need to put mind over matter and go for it. Of course, sometimes it is smarter to act upon the feeling of cold feet. Sometimes the water is so cold that you might catch hypothermia and die. Getting cold feet before making a big decision is natural, but whether to put mind over matter and take the plunge must be decided on a case by case basis.
My cat likes to stand at the door and meow to be let outside. In the summer he runs out quickly, without much deliberation. As winter approaches and the weather gets colder, he usually gets cold feet after I open the door. Sometimes he still goes outside, only with less enthusiasm, but most of the time he simply turns around in disgust.
Some people talk about getting cold feet right before their wedding day. That wasn’t my experience—I didn’t have any second thoughts and to this day I don’t regret taking the plunge. However, we have all heard stories where either the bride or the groom run away right before the big day, leaving the would-be partner and all the guests in shock. That is a serious case of cold feet.
So, next time you have a friend who starts to doubt himself before making a big decision, you may not know whether or not to encourage him to proceed, but at least you have an idiom you can use to describe the feeling!
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