JUST SAYING

A new poll by lighting supplier LED Hut has shown that 64% of Brits don’t know how to carry out simple household tasks. Changing a lightbulb was the task most struggled with, followed by changing the fuse in a plug and bleeding a radiator. LED Hut’s Ecommerce Manager, Alex Nathan, called for younger generations to learn for themselves. “Turning to others might seem easier, but why not ask someone to show you . . . so you can learn a new skill and pass your knowledge on to others.” Let’s hope they’re not left in the dark!

Where do our sayings and idioms come from? Author Andrew Thompson reveals all.

Many believe the expression “as bald as a badger” arose because the top of a badger’s head is white, giving the impression of baldness. However, it actually derives from Victorian times, the original expression being “as bald as a badger’s bum”. Male face shaving brushes were made with badger’s hair, plucked from the badger’s rump. They were trapped, plucked and then set free. The hair would grow back, but before it did, it was common in the countryside of England to see bald-bottomed badgers running about.