hyphen-American
n.— «In the United States, the question, “So, where are you from?” carries with it certain connotations that apply only to people who aren’t fully American. That is, if you are what I call “Hyphen-American,” the aforementioned question can either mean: where in the United States were you born and raised, or, what ethnicity do you identify yourself with?» —“Are you from South or North?” by Sylvia Lee Korea Herald (Seoul, South Korea) Oct. 21, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Asthenosphere, a geologist’s term for the molten layer beneath the earth’s crust, sparks a journey that stretches all the way from ancient Greece to the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Plus: What the heck is a dogberg? It’s when...
Some TV commercials launch catchphrases that stick around long after the original ads. The exclamation Good stuff, Maynard! is still a compliment almost 40 years after it was used in a commercial for Malt-O-Meal hot cereal. And: what do you call...