Why do we call a frankfurter a hot dog? It seems an unsettling 19th-century rumor is to blame. Also, if someone quits something abruptly, why do we say they quit cold turkey? This term’s roots may lie in the history of boxing. Plus, a...
The cloth case for a pillow is variously known as a pillowcase, a pillow slip, or a pillow cover. This is part of a complete episode.
Do you store files on a flash drive, a thumb drive, a USB stick — or perhaps on a monkey? What do you call the little device that holds flash memory and goes into the USB drive of a computer? Some come in wild forms, like sushi or animals. This is...
happy-clappy adj.— «Military alliances are as keen as anyone to cloak themselves in happy-clappy idealism.» —“Fear Holds The Key To The Future Of NATO” by Andrew Marr Independent (London, United Kingdom) Dec...
6,000-mile screwdriver n.— «Well, we don’t know yet. I mean, that is—and again, we’re not going to apply the 6,000-mile screwdriver on that.» —“Lt. Gen. Mike Mcduffie Holds Defense Department Briefing On Refugees” by Mike...
7,000-mile screwdriver n.— «As I think most of you know from our efforts on the USS Cole, the chief of naval operations, secretary of the navy, both for good, legal reasons of not interfering with ongoing investigations from Washington...