Last Christmas was almost six months ago and it is just over six months to next Christmas. As I am taking my archive posts in sequence here we are with two posts originally published at a time of year which no-one really wants to think about just now – or do they?
A word in season is about manners as much as about Christmas.
Boxing Day is all about boxes.
Comments on my older posts are closed, but you are welcome to give some feedback here. New material is posted on Mondays.
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm is the source of this famous quotation.
A plaque commemorating George Orwell (Photo credit Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:George_Orwell_in_Hampstead_-_geograph.org.uk_-_432863.jpg
Life isn’t fair.
This was often said to me in response to: “It isn’t fair!”
All’s fair in love and war.
This proverb or saying implies that there are no rules in these situations.
Fair exchange is no robbery.
This saying derives from bartering goods.
Fair dos.
Children may be reminded to play fairly with this phrase.
Forgive me
means the same as
Pardon me, which is usually said when someone has made an impolite noise.
Pardon me, but… introduces a difference of opinion.
I beg you pardon is a way of apologising.
Pardon?
means “I’m sorry I didn’t hear what you said.” In French “Plaît-il?” is used here and Pardon means Sorry. It is interesting that the German phrase “Entschuldigen Sie mir, bitte” may be translated as Please take my guilt away from me.
Excuse me may be used like pardon me or to ask someone to move out of the way or when there is no alternative but to pass through the space between two people who are talking to each other.
That’s no excuse.
If someone has done something wrong and tries to explain they may hear the words above or the words below this sentence.
Shame on you!
It’s a shame is often used when it’s a pity might be better.
Shame-faced means appearing remorseful or guilty.
A crying shame is a situation which cries out about injustice.
For my sins/for his sins introduces an explanation of something a person does. The idea behind this is presumably the idea of doing penance. We cannot avoid the consequences of our sins or earn forgiveness. It is by grace that we can be forgiven.
In the words of the hymn “There is a green hill far away” by Cecil Frances Alexander:
There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin:
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven and let us in.
Then we have to turn from our sins (like the woman caught in adultery). John 8:3-11
The guilty party often is used to refer to the person in a divorce who has been unfaithful.
Be sure your sins will find you out.
This means that if you do something wrong, it will be discovered. To be out is the opposite of to be at home – hence: “The vicar called and found you out,” was a joke in the days when there were more clergy and they had time to visit parishioners.
Charity covers a multitude of sins.
In this saying charity is an old word for love. It is a paraphrase of St Peter’s words in 1 Peter 4:8 Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Another saint also used a similar phrase. The link gives more of the context James 5:19-20 (NIV) Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Sue' s considered trifles 
