The Italian word ponte means “bridge,” as in the Ponte Vecchio of Florence. In Italian, ponte now also denotes the Monday or Friday added to make for a long weekend. Other languages, such as German and Spanish, also make a similar use of their words...
The Stendhal syndrome is a term used to describe feeling overwhelmed by the beauty of a work of art. The name comes from the French writer Stendhal, who wrote about the dizzying sensation of seeing the art in Florence. It’s somewhat similar to the...
tea sommelier
n.— «To assist customers in selecting the appropriate teas to drink with each course there is a “tea sommelier” on hand.» —“Off the Menu” by Florence Fabricant New York Times June 29, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
throw shade v. phr.— «Leave your attitude—and your daylight persona—at home. After all, it’s hard to throw shade when you’re sweating on the dance floor next to someone named Florence N. Normandie.» —“Dressed to Excess” by Kevin Allman Los Angeles...
Monday hammer n.— «Professor Sargant Florence still seems surprised that absenteeism should be at its highest on Mondays.…From its relatively greater incidence among unskilled men, he asks whether it is due to boredom, and does not discuss the...
widow n.— «Every senior official at the Holy See has a close group of collaborators whom he tries to take care of as best possible before he takes his leave. In common parlance, these are referred to as “widows.” The most famous, of course, are the...
