Patrick in Jacksonville, Florida, is curious about an expression his family uses: just like downtown, meaning, “done really well,” or “performed to perfection.” This phrase, along with just like New York, originated in the days when promoters of...
A young caller from Austin, Texas, wonders: Why do we say things like go to the store or go to the park, but leave out the word the when we say go home? In this case, the word home functions as an adverb. The same is true for phrases such as go...
A bi-coastal listener wonders about the terms West Coast and eastern seaboard. Why don’t we say Californians live on the western seaboard? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Coast vs. Seaboard” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi...
underperforming asphalt n.— «In auto-dependent suburbs that were built without a traditional center, shopping malls offer the chance to create downtowns without destroying existing infrastructure, by recycling what’s known as underperforming...
kiss and ride n.— «Since the village area has precious few parking resources, the idea was floated for the MBTA to build a station in the downtown area without parking, or a what is sometimes called a “kiss and ride” station.» —“Downtown station...
barmuda triangle n.— «Free Internet access has been made available locally at Macleod’s and Preservation Pub on Market Square and, most recently, the Downtown Grill and Brewery on Gay Street, installations locals refer to as the “barmuda triangle...