Bone of contention

Following the terrible school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, the gun law debate has become a real bone of connection. That's something that arouses a lot of strong feelings and can lead to arguments and disagreements.

British presenter and journalist, Piers Morgan, on his CNN talk show, got a bit angry over America's gun law on his show.

I guess everybody wants safer schools but how to achieve it is a real bone of contention.

Pea soup

As you may know, pea soup is a thick, dense soup; ideal for a cold winter's day.

At this time of year, in the northern hemisphere, the combination of cold air and high pressure with little wind can create fog.

Sometimes, if there is no wind for days, it can form into dense, feezing fog - and that we can call pea soup.

In the early 1950s, London was famous for winter fog and none more so than the devastating December of 1952. For five days, a combination of fog and pollution from coal fires, shrouded the city in smog. (Fog = pollutants)

It's estimated that anywhere between 4,000 and 12,000 died of respitory illnesses. The good news is that it lead to The Clean Air Act and a much greater level of environmental awareness.

Here's the start of a fascinating documentary about it.

Watch it - this really is a pea soup!

Jack Frost

Jack Frost is the personification of cold weather. He's the guy who turns everything into frost an ice.

If you live somewhere that gets very cold in the winter, you'll know about the hot water test but here's a guy from Minnesota who's not content with experimenting with water.

All I can say is that he'll be in big trouble when his wife gets home!

Packed like sardines

As you probably know, sardines are small fish that frequently come in cans where they are packed closely together.

We use the phrase, 'packed like sardines,' to describe being crowded into a small space.

The rush hour commuters on the Japanese metro were packed in like sardines - literally! And you think that your train gets busy - this is something else!

Cloud Cuckoo Land

Where are you if you are in cloud cuckoo land? Answer: a very unrealistic place.

It's what you might say to somebody who is overly optimistic about their chances in a situation.

If you think you will marry a prince, you're living in cloud cuckoo land. Still, it worked for Kate Middleton!

Looking for a suitable video clip for Cloud Cuckoo Land, I came across this song by Takako Minekawa; quite interesting!

Couldn't give a monkey's

What could you give if you couldn't give a monkey's? Answer; nothing at all; it means you couldn't care less.

It's a short form of I couldn't give a monkey's toss.

A toss is another word for a throw.

You can toss a pancake - like this.



You can say, I couldn't give a toss.

But best of all, I couldn't give a monkey's.

We can also call children cheeky monkeys - these ones here are certainly naughty and they couldn't give a monkey's about damamging the jeep!