pen-robbery n.— «While people in public offices engage in “pen-robbery,” (another name for embezzlement), the artisans, especially the auto-mechanic unleash tears, sorrows and blood on the ill-fated customers who patronize...
landfill indie n.— «Commentators have gone so far as to coin the derogatory term “landfill indie” for the glut of ho-hum groups whose gritty slice-of-life aesthetic is, let’s be honest, the last thing we’re in the humour for...
A man who owns a parrot says that when people see his bird, they invariably ask the question “Polly wanna cracker?” He wonders about the origin of that psittacine phrase, meaning parrot-like. One of the earliest uses of the phrase so far...
dark green adj.— «Some environmental funds, for example, only invest in clean-technology companies promoting a cleaner environment; such funds are often known as “dark green.”» —“With ethical stocks struggling, is it time...
pizza stone n.— «Baking stone: A stone creates a more even temperature and the crunchy-chewy crust that bakers seek. Also known as a pizza stone, this large porous tile can be left in the bottom of the oven at all times to even the heat...
trees n.pl.— «Cedarberg told police Hill had given her $20 to sign for the packages but denied knowing what was in them. She said after the packages arrived she heard Hill on the phone telling someone he had the “trees,” a term for...