Martha from Grand Rapids, Ohio, wonders about the phrase having an axe to grind. She notes it once meant literally sharpening blades, but today it suggests having a chip on your shoulder or a troubling issue to resolve. The first known use of the...
A physicist is curious about the term learning curve. He pictures it as a pair of axes. But if that’s the case, what’s X and what’s Y? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Etymology of Learning Curve”...