Welcome to the Wordlady blog!

This blog is about the fascinating, fun, and challenging things about the English language. I hope to entertain you and to help you with problems or just questions you might have with spelling and usage. I go beyond just stating what is right and what is wrong, and provide some history or some tips to help you remember. Is something puzzling you? Feel free to email me at wordlady.barber@gmail.com.
You can also order my best-selling books, Six Words You Never Knew Had Something to do With Pigs and Only in Canada You Say. Fun and informative!

Subscribe!

Subscribe! Fun facts about English delivered weekly right to your inbox. IT'S FREE! Fill in your email address below.
Privacy policy: we will not sell, rent, or give your name or address to anyone. You can unsubscribe at any point.

Search This Blog

Friday, August 29, 2014

#Canadianism of the day: make strange

#Canadianism of the day: make strange = Cdn & Irish (of a baby or child) fuss or be shy in company.

P.S. If you liked this post, you might enjoy regular updates about English usage and word origins from Wordlady. Receive every new post delivered right to your inbox! Sign up here.
Follow me 
on twitter: @thewordlady
on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katherine.barber.37

If you find the English language fascinating, you should check out my entertaining history of the English language courses. More info here

2 comments:

  1. Jeff Josselyn-CreightonAugust 29, 2014 at 2:21 PM

    My aunt used to use this of babies. The only time I have encountered it in print is in Samuel Crossman's hymn "My Song Is Love Unknown": "But men made strange, and none / The longed-for Christ would know." But Crossman was English, and referring to adults. Maybe he had heard the expression from Irish folk?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too am familiar with it from the hymn, one of my faves. It was current in British English formerly, but became archaic,, surviving only in Canada and Ireland.

      Delete

About Me

My photo
Canada's Word Lady, Katherine Barber is an expert on the English language and a frequent guest on radio and television. She was Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. Her witty and informative talks on the stories behind our words are very popular. Contact her at wordlady.barber@gmail.com to book her for speaking engagements; she can tailor her talks to almost any subject. She is also available as an expert witness for lawsuits.