Lesson 300--rhyming adjectives

In Canada (and other English speaking parts of the world) we have some interesting rhyming words that we use to describe things.

plain Jane = not particularly glamorous or gorgeous, or just plane.

examples

I don't like that actress.  She so plain Jane.

Bobby wants a couple of those plain Jane donuts.

artsy-fartsy = artistic, but somewhat negative in meaning.

examples

I don't like going to artsy-fartsy events.

The crowd was too artsy-fartsy for Helena's taste.

humdrum = boring, uninteresting

examples

It was a rather humdrum evening.

The movie was so humdrum that he fell asleep before it ended.

Lesson 124--run of the mill

 

 

There are some idiomatic expressions in English that crop up from time to time.  They appear in movies, television, books, magazines and newspapers.  Knowing them could improve your comprehension in all of these activities.  Here are some expressions which are related.

run of the mill

This expression means usual, not special, average, common, typical.

It just your typical run of the mill sports bar.  If you've seen one, you've seen them all.

Bob is a run of the mill office worker.  He probably won't ever be a manager.

It was a run of the mill family restaurant. 

 

humdrum (this one includes the meaning of boring)

It was a humdrum day.  Nothing exciting happened.

nothing special

Mary is nothing special.  She's just like all her friends.