In Japanese, an irresistibly cute baby might be described with an expression that translates as “Even if I put it in my eye, it wouldn’t hurt.” It’s a form of what psychologists call cute aggression, or the overwhelming urge to squeeze, crush, or...
Is there a term for words that simply feel good as you form them in your mouth and say them? Linguists sometimes speak of mouthfeel, an expression borrowed from the food world. They also talk about phonaesthetics, the study of the sensuous...
boom-bap n.— «Staying true to the early- to mid-‘90s boom-bap aesthetic—”boom-bap” being an onomatopoeic nod to the ferocity of the kick and snare drums—the album was unapologetically rooted in New York’s Golden Era. And so were its featured...
government ugly adj.— «Architects need to be reminded to keep their signatures, or personal style, off the building, which can sometimes drive up costs, Peach said. Instead, he reminds them to keep buildings “government ugly,” a term used to...

