looming
n.— «The term for misjudging an oncoming train is “looming,” said Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell, and it can have deadly consequences. “You can’t accurately judge the distance of train,” she said. “They are always closer and faster than they appear.”» —“Police turn up the heat at crossings” by Jason Wells in South Glendale Burbank Leader (California) Feb. 21, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Whether it’s a Rubik’s cube or a round of Wordle, why do so many of us find puzzles irresistible? A new book celebrates the allure and psychological benefits of brain teasers. Plus, powerful language for talking about the chronic illnesses and...
Linda in Salisbury, North Carolina, wonders why boxing is called the sweet science, since there’s nothing obviously sweet about a bruising sport. This term took hold among British sportswriters in the early 19th century as promoters tried to frame...