rain garden
n.— «But he knew very little about native plants until about five years ago, when he encountered for the first time the term “rain garden”—a phrase used to describe an intentionally created depression in the ground that is planted with native species. Its purpose is to hold rainwater, allowing it to soak into the ground, preventing runoff.» —“Mays: ’shamefully ignored’ natives” by Alma Gaul Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) Jan. 18, 2008. (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...