What exactly is a planet? Controversy over this question led to Pluto’s redefinition, along with a brand-new English word. And: Some people now use the phrase all the things! to mean and whatnot or you know what I mean. This new sense of all the...
Eduarda phones from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to ask about the English expression burn the midnight oil, meaning “to work late.” The phrase goes back to the days of having to use oil lamps for illumination at night. A Spanish idiom somewhat along...
Noon of night is an archaism, a poetic way of saying “midnight.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Noon of Night is the Middle of the Night” I’m sure you can guess what this term means. Noon of night. So midnight? Yes. I came across...
Z2K9 n.— «Apparently Zune 30s across the globe have suffered a simultaneous crash, coining the term “Z2K9,” even if 2009 hasn’t officially rolled around yet. Purportedly, starting at approximately midnight last night, Zunes with the latest firmware...
Twi-hard n.— «The most recent “Twilight” book sold an astonishing 1.3 million copies in the first 24 hours, and fans—also known as “Twi-hards”—stay up all night to attend the books” midnight release parties at bookstores across the U.S...
midnight drop n.— «According to the Dow Jones report, the US Treasury is trying to push the regulations through after months of difficult drafting in the hope of finalising the issue before the Bush administration leaves office at the end of the...