English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
SPEAKING WITH EXACTITUDE
You should present your idea clearly without ~missing~ words (nonstandard).
You should present your idea clearly without ~mixing~ words (nonstandard).
You should present your idea clearly without mincing words (standard). If you say that someone does not mince their words, you mean that they speak in a forceful and direct way, especially when saying something unpleasant to someone.
Don’t fight a ~lost~ battle (nonstandard).
Don’t fight a losing battle (standard). A struggle that seems certain to end in failure is a losing battle.
GAB
