Is it ahead of the curve or ahead of the curb? The original and far more common phrase is ahead of the curve. The curve in question is the kind plotted on a graph, specifically to represent the power produced by a machine. In aeronautics, one wants...
How do you pronounce moot point? Does it sound like mute, or rhyme with toot? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Mute Point vs. Moot Point” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Stephen from Dallas. Hi, Stephen. How are you...
What do you call it when you roll past a stop sign without coming to a complete stop? A California stop, a Michigan stop — or something else? And if someone calls you a voracious reader, would you be flattered or insulted? Also, Puddin’ Tame, the...
Unless you’ve been hiding out in a galaxy far, far away, you know that this is an election year. Grant and Martha talk about current political slang. Ever hear of glass pockets? Or horseracism? Is there an etymological connection between caucus and...
A caller wants to settle a friendly argument: Is something not worth debating called a moot point or a mute point? Here’s the scene from the Friends episode that Grant mentions, in which Joey misunderstands the term as moo point. This is part of a...
