This course is offered online via the easy-to-use Zoom program.
Without even realizing it, we all speak in code—by
frequently using idioms. Where do they all come from? For starters, why does
“in a pickle” mean to be in a quandary or in a difficult position? Even though
many idioms don’t make much sense literally, they are very useful to convey our
thoughts and feelings. You will meet captivating people and sometimes go to unexpected
places as we explore the stories behind common idioms. This course features
many visuals to bring the stories to life.
Stewart Edelstein is the
author of four books, including Dubious
Doubletsand The COVID-19 Zeitgeist:
Fifty Essays. He has taught three very popular OLLI courses on etymology,
has created word games for Merriam-Webster, and been a guest wordsmith for A
Word A Day. He is a graduate of Oberlin College and Cornell Law School.
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Berkshires
OLLI: the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College Partners in education with Williams College, Bard College at Simon's Rock and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 1350 West Street | Pittsfield, MA 01201 | 413.236.2190 | olli@berkshirecc.edu