A blank map
‘You’ll start with a blank map, that doesn’t do more than show roughly what’s water and what...
Lummocks / lummox
Again, this was in a 1930s English classic, though the dictionary says it's American, so perhaps it's still in use. “He’ll...
Arthur Ransome – cover illustrations
If you've been following WritingRedux, you may have noticed a number of pawky playful gems from Arthur Ransome's children's books....
Chatteration
'Again there was a sudden chatteration of gulls.' A fine description of the confabulations of sea-gulls when they get...
A waste of an island
Wonderful notion this, from one of the best of Ransome's enchanting children's books. Of course if you land on an...
Splatchers
‘Splatchers?’ said Roger. ‘Splatchers,’ said the boy. ‘For walking on the mud.’ ‘Gosh!’ said Roger. ‘Like snowshoes?’
When these children...
Foreign-going steamship
All the romance and none of the hardship in these three words.
Source: Arthur Ransome, Coot Club
...
Dull as suet pudding
A charming alternative to ‘dull as ditchwater’. I also like the last affirmative sentence.
“Your brother is...
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