A New York babysitter says the English language needs a word to replace the clunky phrase, “the kids I babysit.” The hosts try to help her find one. “Charges”? “Child associates”? “Padawans”? This is...
retrovore n.— «The best moment at this market was when I found out I’m a retrovore. That’s a new word, invented today. One of the farmers we were chatting with said his kid said to him “Dad, if you didn’t raise animals the way you...
zipper n.— «When he was running around shirtless this summer, Wyatt realized most other kids don’t have surgical scars—or “zippers,” as he calls them.» —“Fighting cancer, as a patient and a lobbyist” by Nina...
throw it up v. phr.— «She and other deputies exchange gang information. “Kids try to fly in under the radar, try to keep their gang links secret.” But, she said, you might see a student “throwing it up,” jargon for...
red-diaper baby n.— «As a red-diaper baby, a Jewish kid with left-wing, atheist parents, I was, of course, friendly with my few red-diaper brethren in the projects.» —“The Wanderer” by Janice Eidus New York...
exergaming n.— «In schools across the country, dodge ball, duck-duck-goose and walks around a track are being supplemented with fitness programs that use video games to get students moving. “Exergaming,” as it is called, is...