bladed stance
n.— «I’m not a cop, but a bladed stance is where, rather than being directly lined up and with both feet the same distance from who you’re facing, your body is angled with one foot further away than the other. One reason some people in higher-risk situations do that is to be in a more stable stance to keep from being knocked on their ass if the person they’re addressing decides to attack them.» —“”are You A Cop?” And Other Tales” by wrffr Volokh Conspiracy Dec. 17, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Astronauts returning from space say they experience what’s called the overview effect, a new understanding of the fragility of our planet and our need to reflect on what humans all share as a species. A book about the end of the universe...
The new Downton Abbey movie is a luscious treat for fans of the public-television period piece, but how accurate is the script when it comes to the vocabulary of the early 20th century? It may be jarring to hear the word swag, but it was already at...