Mary says her Illinois-born husband and father-in-law refer to a measuring tape as a billy. The word billy is used in a slangy sense to refer long lengths of metal, such a billy knife, and a Billy Box is a kind of toolbox, but the use of billy to...
Why do subdivisions and office complexes have names invoking landscapes and animals that don’t exist there? A Fort Wayne, Indiana, listener got to wondering about this after passing the “Bay View Apartments” in her hometown: there’s not a bay in...
run one’s pockets v. phr.— «The man asked Cooper for a cigarette, and when Cooper said no, the man told him to “run your pockets,” which is street lingo for “give me your money.” Cooper grabbed the gun, pushed the man to the ground and ran...
dark coaster n.— «“The Dark Knight,” the ride, is atypical in a number of ways. It is what is known as a “dark coaster,” which means its twists, turns and drops are all indoors.» —“Newest coaster weak on thrills” by Steve Penhollow Journal...
throw-up n.— «Across the street from the doorway collage is a big, black squiggle on the side of a rundown market. Two doors down, behind some leaning pallets, are two-toned bubble-letter “throw-ups,” around the corner.» —“In the landscape of...
hot tub rash n.— «Waterborne diseases could include cryptosporidium, giardiasis and pseudomonas dermatitis, commonly known as “hot tub rash.” Aside from hot tub rash, most waterborne diseases cause diarrhea and abdominal cramps.» —“Public pools in...