When it comes to books, some people are pack rats; others make a point of periodically culling from the word herd. In a recent New York Times essay, Laura Miller describes her own mixed feelings about getting rid of unwanted books. A full shelf of...
This week’s “Slang This!” contestant tries to decipher the slang phrases dance at two weddings and put the big pot in the little pot. She also shares her own favorite slang terms for crumb crusher, rug rat and ankle biter. By the...
blessay n.— «I wrote a Frankenstein “blessay.” The reason there’s more “essay” than “blog” in that neologism is because there was more essay than blog in my contribution.» —“One Confused...
pixieing v.— «“Pixieing” is a slang term for the act of damaging or sabotaging machinery, usually carried out in a covert way. This tactic differs from some symbolic actions carried out by peace groups, where protestors damage...
rowdy-sheeter n.— «News reportage on city crime seems to collapse the rowdy-sheeter and history-sheeter in their descriptions of arrests, shootouts, etc.: “notorious rowdy-sheeter” and “history-sheeter” are used...
moded adj.— «I asked the males in my class, “What’s the first thing you guys do when you’re together discussing a ‘freak’ or a ‘fox?’ You ask, “Hey, what she look like?…Oh, man! She’s real fine, man. She’s light...
