English as a foreign language

Often people have complained that they don't understand words that I have used. Possibly because I do try, albeit rarely, to venture beyond the same pale expressions used everyday and colour my language with a wider variety of words. And sometimes, they are even clean! In point of fact, I have promised myself this year to make a conscious effort not to use so many expected cliched couplings.

But back to my vocabulary. Apparently this misunderstanding of my parlance causes some distress to people. Today, I had to explain, not once, but three times, the meaning of the expression "gussy up"!

And people wonder why I am turned on by well constructed sentences and creative word use?