optics n.— «Optics. This euphemism for “spin”—as in “getting the optics right”—is big in Washington. We hope it doesn’t make it to Los Angeles.» —“How cliche” Los Angeles Times Jan. 1, 2008...
scuffled v.— «The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers scuffled through the first half of the season. Manager Tom Lasorda said he is growing weary of hearing about how hard his players are trying.» —“Randolph Says...
A Way with Words is a lively hour-long public radio show about language, on the air since 1998. Co-hosts Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett delve into word histories, solve grammar disputes, give and answer quizzes, and take calls from listeners...
pull leather v. phr.— «But Molinas was assassinated in Los Angeles in 1975, three months after I had lunch with him at the Playboy Club. As they say in Texas, Molinas “pulled leather on the mob” in Vegas by refusing to pay his...
yoga ibérico n.— «Después de comer, mejor dicho, después de haberme echado lo que los patriotas decimos el yoga ibérico y los pro yanquis siesta, me voy a una tertulia.» —by Camilo José Cela Los Sueños Vanos, Los Angeles...
blue badger n.— «As the Los Angeles Times first reported last October, more than half the workforce in two key CIA stations in the fight against terrorism—Baghdad and Islamabad, Pakistan—is made up of industrial contractors, or...