Peter in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, asks how the expression I’m beside myself came to mean “upset” or “unsettled.” The phrase suggests an out-of-body experience and came into English in the 14th century via a French...
The hosts talk about the tricks they use to remember how to spell certain words. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Spelling Tricks” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Grant Barrett. And I’m...
candy flipping n.— «One reads: “Let’s go candy flipping tonight”—another term for using ecstasy.» —“Study: Drugs, Sex Prominent In Teen Online Chats” by Mary Calvi WCBS-TV (New York City) June...
boat n.— «The investigation began earlier this month after Vu allegedly began negotiating the sale 1,000-pill quantities of ecstasy, commonly known as a “boat,” for between $2,500 and $2,700.» —“3,500 Dosage Units Of Date...
shafting n.— «A young dentist boasted to a friend that he had taken six ecstasy tablets and was heading to the toilets to insert another into his rectum so that it would be absorbed faster. The conversation was shocking to some who...
buy bust n.— «At the time of the Aug. 11, 2005, bust, members of the Marin Major Crimes Task Force already had purchased 400 pills from Marquez. They arranged to buy 2,000 pills for $10,000 in a transaction known to investigators as the...