Greetings, workers of the world! This is another newsletter from A Way with Words. This past weekend's show was re-run about the secret words of families. Give it a spin: We also talked about "knocked up," "the real...
A husband and wife are retiring after many years on the job. But they’re keeping their options open for future employment, and don’t want to be called retirees. The word retirees isn’t enough to connote the more “dynamic and...
gumbander n.— Note: “Gum band” is a term for a rubberband that is common to Pittsburgh and elsewhere in Pennsylvania. «Instead, people who are now exploring start-up or self-employment opportunities find the prospect of...
pass the trash v. phr.— Note: A synonym for trade turkeys and dance of the lemons. «The reporting law is an attempt to stop the practice known as “passing the trash,” in which districts let problem teachers quietly move to...
surplusing n.— «The employees will have the opportunity to “follow the work,” as AT&T puts it, thus skirting a promise it made in its current contract with the union not to engage in “surplusing,” which is...
Uncle Dupey n.— «Many newcomers to Delaware work for what’s now the state’s main source of employment, credit card banks. Old-school Delawareans are more likely to have roots in the chemical industry, long dominated by the DuPont Co...