Thing To Neither Be Nor Do Today: faint

Being faint is to do with lacking things - conviction, brightness, or force.

You can be in exactly the same state in a good way - you can be questioning instead of convinced, soft instead of bright, gentle instead of forceful - but if you're faint then you're annoyingly insipid, dull, or weak.

So don't damn someone with faint praise, glow with enthusiasm about...well, there must be something, if it's only the joy you felt upon leaving the performance (I had such fun this evening, darling!).

Don't be faint-hearted, have courage.

And if you haven't the faintest idea how to do that, well, then: work it out!

Hmm...

...I suppose, ironically, the best option might involve fainting at the critical moment...

Thing To Neither Be Nor Do Today: faint. This word comes from the Old French, from faindre, to be idle.