The word jackpot can denote the pile of money you win at a game of poker, but another definition is that of trouble, tangled mess, or a literal logjam. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Jackpot Origin” Hello, you have A Way with...
A Zionsville, Indiana, man recalls that when his mother issued a warning to her kids, she would add for emphasis: “And that’s the word with the bark on it.” The bark in this case refers to rough-hewn wood that still has bark on it—in other words...
Do you refer to complimentary tickets to an event as Annie Oakleys? Or deadwoods, perhaps? The term Annie Oakley supposedly comes from a punched ticket’s resemblance to bullet-riddled cards from the sharpshooter’s Wild West shows. Deadwood is...
pinner fire n.— «The June 23 blaze consumed a mere five acres and burned for just more than an hour—a small-scale spark and burn that California Department of Forestry (CDF) officials often refer to as a “crackerjack” or “pinner” fire...
crackerjack fire n.— «The June 23 blaze consumed a mere five acres and burned for just more than an hour—a small-scale spark and burn that California Department of Forestry (CDF) officials often refer to as a “crackerjack” or “pinner” fire...
sheerblading n.— «Division of Forestry prefers a method called sheerblading: A bulldozer outfitted with a blade cuts down the trees, which are then pushed into windrows and burned.» —“Borough targets black spruce” by Diana Campbell Daily News...