The emotional appeal of handwriting and the emotional reveal of animal phrases. Should children be taught cursive writing in school, or is their time better spent studying other things? A handwritten note and a typed one may use the very same words...
Jocelyn in Richmond, Virginia, is curious about the expression busier than a one-armed paper hanger, meaning extremely busy. Perhaps the earliest version of this phrase comes from a 1908 short story by O. Henry: as busy as a one-armed man with the...
It’s the art of constructive feedback: If you’re a teacher with a mountain of papers to grade, you may find yourself puzzling over which kinds of notes in the margins work best. Martha and Grant discuss strategies for effective paper...
When a jacket’s been on the hanger too long, the shoulders get punched out, meaning they become distended. The same principle is behind the term butt-sprung, which describes a skirt that’s distended by the wearer, and now applies to...
hanger appeal n.— «Asos is also not affected by what is known as “hanger appeal,” the need for garments to look good on a rail so that customers will pick them up in the first place.» —“Asos: net gain” by...
Salutations, Earthlings. Take me to your podcast! This week a caller sends us off on a slang-infested trip about saying fast good-byes. Listen as we blow pop, popcorn, and taco stands by way of author Jim Harrison, the comic strip Funky...