Frankenstein
n.— «There’s an ironic local expression that sums it up: Frankenstein. It describes an old object or concept injected with new life through fresh components—”antique” chairs bolstered by new arms and legs, jeepneys revamped with transplanted motors and fresh paint jobs (a new MTV program, Pimp My Jeepney, is in the works), to ukay-ukay, or rummage-sale, vintage clothes stitched together with modern materials and prints. To me, Frankenstein explains the city’s visual style as well as its strength and resilience. Improvisation and cheerfully making do characterize the Filipino attitude toward poverty.» —“The Bold and the Beautiful” by Lara Day in Manila, Philippines Time Apr. 25, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Susan from Virginia Beach, Virginia, shares the phrase her mother used when the kids refused to eat: It’ll grow hair on your back teeth. This supposed motivator likely blends two older traditions: a German idiom, Haare auf den Zähnen haben...
Why do speakers of the same language have different accents? A lively new book called Why We Talk Funny offers a linguist’s look at how and why accents develop. And: If you’ve “stood up” at a wedding, were you supporting the marriage or objecting to...