summer melt
n.— «Because of overcrowding problems in previous years, the college reduced the number of offers of admission from 3,486 in 2003 to 3,366 this year. However, this year the college’s admissions office experienced an unexpected low “summer melt” of just 26 students. The summer melt refers to the number of students who initially enroll at William and Mary after being admitted and later decide to attend a different college or university. In 2003, the summer melt was 57 students. Two years ago, it was 43 students.» —“W&M makes space for crowded Class of 2008″ by Brian Whitson William & Mary News (Williamsburg, Virginia) Aug. 17, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Mary Beth in Greenville, South Carolina, wonders: Why do we say four-oh-nine for the number 409 instead of four-zero-nine or four-aught-nine? What are the rules for saying either zero or oh or aught or ought to indicate that arithmetical symbol...
Lucy in Louisa, Virginia, recalls that if her mother was exasperated when the kids were misbehaving, she’d announce I’m going to put you both in a wet paper bag and see who falls out first! This is part of a complete episode.
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