Chanukah bush
n.— «Two of the brightest moments of the weekend’s viewing were Gertrude Berg’s account—on the Ed Sullivan show—of her father’s substitution of a “Chanukah bush” for a Christmas tree.» —“Fills Female Scrooge Parts” by Cynthia Lowry Indiana Evening Gazette (Pa.) Dec. 22, 1959. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...
Eric from West Lafayette, Indiana, wonders which phrase is correct when referring to “making the grade” or “meeting expectations”: Is it cut the mustard or cut the muster? It’s the former, a reference to the strong...