pause
n.— «Pause is a game that started out in NY in the mid-late 90s.The way its played is if ur speaking and ur about to say something thats gonna sound gay or homo-ish you have to say “pause” b4 you say it or right after b4 anybody else catches it, if you don’t anyone who hears you say the gay statement gets to say “pause” and everyone clowns you for being a homo.Its funny because sometimes you’ll say something that sounds very gay and not realize it until you hear someone screaming “PAUSE!”» —“NBA DRAFT 2007—Spike Lee talks with Gus Johnson” by illwill718 YouTube July 10, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Why does the term vegetarian cause so much confusion? Some people assume it means avoiding red meat but still eating chicken. And is there a term for a vegetarian who also eats fish and poultry? Plus, screwball comedies from the 1930s mix slapstick...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski takes inspiration for this week’s puzzle from cartoonist Nathan W. Pyle and his aliens from Strange Planet (Bookshop|Amazon), whose ultra-literal phrasing makes familiar experiences sound oddly technical and new. For example...