Peter Hollindale (Letters, 31 Oct) is clearly upset by certain common expressions.

But where exactly in 'big girl's blouse' does he detect venomous misogyny?

As for 'girly swot', I'd take 'swot' as a compliment, girls, and the association as a positive one.

And what is so diabolical about telling a culpable male ditherer to 'man up'? Or indeed 'woman up'?

Historical accidents of idiom, Peter says, should determine how we choose a prime minister. Political, economic, and intellectual competence, I say, matter much more.

John Imrie.

Arnold Road

Egerton