Bridget in Ishpeming, Michigan, wonders why so many English speakers answer a restroom knock with Ocupado!, even when they don’t speak Spanish. The usage may have been reinforced by bilingual signs in everyday U.S. life, including old airline seat...
This week, our puzzle guy Greg Pliska joins us for a game of “Spoonerisms,” or the shifting of the initial consonant sounds in a pair of words. For example, common undergraduate college degree and online auction site. Got it? This is part of a...
Easlos n.— «My guess is you could unload it all to another entrepreneur, or franchise it to sellers at swapmeets in EasLos and the border area.» —“Re: *Seeking associate to auction massive inventory on ebay” by Frank S Usenet: alt.marketing.online...
windorphin n.— «Windorphins is the latest buzzword in eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) CEO Meg Whitman’s vernacular. It’s the contraction of winning and endorphins, and it’s what the world’s leading online marketplace is hoping to stir up as it improves the...
matchy-match adj.— «To achieve a table that isn’t too matchy-match, Hotchkiss—the creative director of Alison Events—offers several affordable places to shop: “I always look online—eBay, Craigslist—vintage or second-hand stores like Goodwill...
drop-off store n.— «Zehall is among a growing number of small businesses across the country tapping into this market. He operates what is known as a drop-off store, where people can bring their items to be auctioned and shipped. While exact figures...
