A listener in Montreal, Canada, asks: How do you pronounce lieutenant? The British say LEF-ten-ant, while Americans say LOO-ten-ant. In the United States, Noah Webster insisted on the latter because it hews more closely to the word’s...
It’s time for book recommendations! Martha’s enjoying an armchair tour of important places in the history of our language, and Grant recommends relaxing with books that make great reading for both children and adults. Plus, are you the...
Spit baths are another common form of quickie baths, wherein a moist towel is used to wipe schmutz off a child’s face. One fraternity member emailed us to say that when he was in college, over-spraying with cologne in lieu of a shower was...
bolt-on n.—Gloss: a business or product line acquired by a company in lieu of the company developing that product or expertise for itself. Note: Also as an adjective. «Although Oracle would like to be considered daring, its strategy of...
blessing-way n.— «Consider a blessing-way type ceremony in lieu of a traditional shower. This can be adapted to just about every religion I can think of, as well as to people who are not religious. This gets away from the whole material...
firehouse primary n. an electoral nominating process similar to a caucus, held in lieu of a primary election. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)