While cantering about on the moral high ground, bumping into Tentativeplotfinder and taking in the view of Great Rollright, I sometimes like to dismount and read a book.

Absolute fave for dipping into and exclaiming 'Well, I never!' is Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.

As you may have noticed I am much enamoured with all things nautical. Our language is littered with little phrases referencing our seafaring past; no doubt because we didn't accrew the empire without setting sail in the world's best ships. Being an island race has distinct advantages.

'Dutch courage', for example is a naval reference to Dutch gin, which is obviously a double-world score for me. Sailors and gin - what better?

But phrase of today is: Cut of his jib - as in 'I like the cut of his jib', meaning 'I like the look of him'. Its origins refer to the cut of the jib, or the headsail, which spoke volumes about the quality or character of a vessel.

See.. utterly fascinating. I promise if you like words you'll never be bored with your Phrase and Fable.