A: I heard you went back to your hometown during the holiday. How’s your mom? B: Thanks for asking. Although she’s no longer young, she’s still full of vim and vigor. Note: This expression, primarily American, uses a tautology, stating the same idea twice with different words to boost its impact. “Vim” means “high energy,” which is the same as “vigor,” from the Latin word “vigorem.” The term “vim and vigor” first appeared in the mid-1800s, and its use peaked in the 1940s. The expression was coined perhaps due to the pleasing alliteration involved. |