Lake Wobegon effect
n.— «There was a strong Lake Wobegon effect in the data, with only 1 percent of the population admitting to having “less than average” looks.» —“Online Dating? Thin and Rich Works Here, Too” by Hal R. Varian New York Times June 30, 2005. (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...
Chris in Omaha, Nebraska, asks about the use of the adjective husky to describe the boys’ clothing section in a department store. This coded term refers to clothes made for heavier fellows. Husky was originally a positive term connoting the...