Karina in Jackson, Wyoming, wonders why a useful little hardware fastener became an insult. The political wingnut is a shortening of right-wing nut, with nut meaning someone thought to be out of their head or lacking common sense, the same idea as...
Why do we say something is academic when referring to a question or topic that’s theoretical? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “It’s Academic at this Point” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Good morning...
kiddie coke n.— «That is not to mention Ritalin—now referred to as “Kiddie Coke” on the street. A psychotropic drug prescribed to millions of children, Ritalin is today a bestselling drug.» —“Solution to World-Wide Drug Abuse Starts...
casino capitalism n.— «This book’s middle chapters succinctly show how “casino capitalism” (a coinage by Susan Strange, one of the left-wing critics of the market that Green deftly cites) led from late 2007 to a...
younger n.— «In grime speak, they’re known as the “youngers”, a new generation of MCs whose choleric rhymes and internet savvy is helping to re-brand the grime scene as a thriving marketplace of teenage talent.» —“Grime’s new...
Twittering, tweeting, twirting—it’s rare to see a whole new body of language appear right before your eyes. But that’s what’s happening with Twitter. We discuss the snappy new shorthand of the twitterati. Also, why do people feel...
