Why do we say someone whose career on the ascent is enjoying a meteoric rise? Don’t meteors plummet? For that matter, a caller asks, why do we call “heads up!” when a ball is coming towards us? Shouldn’t it be “heads down”? The hosts explain that...
Grant shares a word he’s been encountering at conferences: discussant. A discussant is someone who, after a series of papers are presented, takes the microphone to summarize the information given and offer opinions on the matter. This is part of a...
Should you use enamored of or enamored with? Grant explains that while North Americans use both, enamored of is the more common of the two. In Great Britain, it’s enamored of, a construction similar to those in several Romance languages. Enamored...
Ever notice how you can sing the lyrics of “Amazing Grace” to the theme from “Gilligan’s Island”—or for that matter, to “The House of the Rising Sun”? Turns out there are many more examples of this. Is there a word for this musical phenomenon? (Did...
hair crush n.— «OK guys I am not going to lie here, I do this thing that I like to call my “hair crush.” My hair crushes are people with fab hair that I personally would kill to have.» —“ Kelli Zink. From hair crush to hair love in a matter...
seagen n.— «As for food Kelli is what she likes to call a, “Seagen.” A vegan that eats seafood.» —“ Kelli Zink. From hair crush to hair love in a matter products.” by Eliza Siep Chicago Now: Pretty Cheap Feb. 2, 2010. (source: Double-Tongued...