In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...
Nick from San Antonio, Texas, grew up hearing his father call an improvised lunch of leftovers and pantry odds and ends tiffin. In Indian English, tiffin can mean a light meal, especially lunch, and also the stacked metal lunch container used to...
Aru in Omaha, Nebraska, says friends and colleagues tease him about his use of prepone, usually used to mean “move an appointment to an earlier date or time.” It’s a word commonly used in Indian English, is morphologically sound, and...
“Out of station” is an English idiom used in India to mean “going on vacation.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Indian English “Out of Station” Means Away on Vacation” Do you know the phrase out of station? No, it...
Lawrence from San Diego asks whether an assignment should ask what students have learned or what they have learnt. The older -t past-tense and past-participle forms—learnt, spelt, and the like—largely gave way to -ed forms in American English during...
phillum n.— Note: From an exaggerated pronunciation of “film.” This term seems to be similar to the American fil-lim. «If you are looking for a “timepass phillum” this weekend, pass on this one. “Dil Pe Mat...