After crossing the International Date Line, Alison from Riverside, California, wonders if there’s a word for losing an entire day when traveling between time zones. We suggest déjà noon and groundhogging, and offer a little ditty about time:...
Man-happen’in n.— «Jessie Raven, 18, a December graduate from Lincoln-Way Central High School, is getting an education of a lifetime, spending four months in Beijing with her aunt and uncle. It’s a long way from Manhattan, or “Man...
Grant has the latest headlines from the world of language, including the debate over the name of the home of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Is Beijing pronounced bay-JING or bay-ZHING? Also, a recent court decision concerning an offense that’s...
Greyjing n.— «When it was announced in 2001 that the 2008 Games were to be hosted by Beijing, or as many are referred to it “Greyjing,” drastic action was undertaken to improved its smoky image—it’s just not sport when...
splash/mash/dash n.— «The Ming Tomb reservoir aptly hosts the swimming section of the gruelling Olympics triathlon events.…The Olympic ‘splash/mash/dash,’ as the sport is fondly known, takes place in the Changping District of...
ambush marketer n.— «Beginning on Friday, the Chinese government will begin restricting advertising space in Beijing, giving preference to the official sponsors of the Olympic Games. The restrictions are meant to clamp down on so-called...