The term nebby, meaning meddlesome or nosy, literally derives from the word neb, or “nose,” a term that’s been around in English for more than a thousand years. Despite what you might guess, nebby is unrelated to the Yiddish word nebbish, meaning “a...
Julia in central Indiana grew up hearing nibby for someone who snoops or gets into other people’s business. The more common spelling is nebby, a Western Pennsylvania term that fits her family’s earlier move from Pennsylvania into Ohio and Indiana...
alligator n.— «In the summer, there are lots of retreads.…We refer to them as alligators because they’re heavy and have steel in the treads so they can bite you.» —“Retired engineer now a highway angel” by Sarah...
office wife n.— «“I’m not very much pleased with the way you and Ted Jones and Jim Farrel cut up. They call you ‘our office wife’ and act as if they had known you all their lives.” “Office wife?” repeated Helen...
gamer n.— «He runs. He throws. He catches. What Crouch showed them is that he’s a gamer, and maybe this is the year a gamer wins.» —“Solich, Huskers really special” by Tom Shael Omaha World-Herald (Neb.) Oct...
spizzerinktum n.— «“What is a spizzerinktum? I have just been called that and I want to know.”…”A spizzerinktum is a person who possesses initiative, vim, vigor, efficiency, intelligent persistency and an overmastering...
