Winning English - Mastering Idioms, Slang, and Cultural References
Milestone • Cause for celebration • Golden anniversary • Practice makes perfect • Talk soon
Welcome to the 50th edition of Winning English! Of course, the 50th part of something is often seen as a milestone and a cause for celebration. In today’s edition, I’ll explain a few vocabulary words and phrases and cover the cultural topic of anniversaries.
First, a “milestone” is a significant achievement along a path. That path can be a lifetime, a project, or anything that happens over time. For example, graduating from school is a milestone. A company launching its first product is also a milestone. In ancient times, “milestones” were literally stones or carved rocks that marked the distance a person had traveled.
“A cause for celebration” is a common phrase used to express that an event is special.
Since this is the 50th edition of Winning English, we could also call it the golden edition.
Traditionally, certain anniversaries have been associated with certain materials. For example, 50 is associated with gold, and 25 is associated with silver.
So, under this tradition, a couple’s 50th wedding anniversary is called their golden anniversary. A couple’s 25th wedding anniversary is called their silver anniversary.
There are traditional materials for up to 60 anniversaries! Some are a bit funny, at least to me. For example, a first anniversary is associated with paper. A 35th anniversary is associated with coral. People often give gifts made from the associated material for an anniversary.
For a complete list of the anniversaries and materials, click here.
To finish this golden edition, I just want to say thank you to all of the subscribers and supporters of Winning English over these first fifty editions.
You might have noticed I finish each post with “talk soon”. You might not have noticed that it has two meanings. First, “talk soon” is a shortened way to say “talk to you soon”, which means “goodbye”. But it’s also my small way to encourage you to speak English often and a lot - that is, “talk soon” - because, after all, practice makes perfect.
“Practice makes perfect” is a common saying that’s likely easy to understand - the more you practice, the better and better you will become, until you are perfect.
Thanks again, and well, talk soon!