Like mushrooms in fallen leaves, new words keep popping up overnight. Also, is there an English word that means “the in-laws of your son or daughter“? And what does it mean when someone says, “Well, that was odder than Dick’s hatband!”?
Feeling fankled? It’s a Scots English word that means “messed up” or “confused.” In this week’s episode, Grant and Martha also discuss a whole litter of synonyms for dust bunny, a slew of different terms for the piece of playground equipment you...
surgiversary
n.— «Today is exactly one year from my surgery. (I refuse to refer to it as a “surgiversary.” It’s just not me.)» —“What a Year It’s Been” by thefatblackdog The Fat Black Dog Mar. 26, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
econolypse n.—Gloss: The current economic crisis. Note: “Economy” + “apocalypse.” «The question now is whether the company can manage itself successfully past what the wags now commonly refer to as the “econolypse.”» —“IBM on 2009: Yes we can” by...
polebrity n.— «Pretty soon, we will all probably start to complain that Obama is a man of straw, a media creation, a triumph of style over substance; more a celebrity than a politician—a “polebrity” to use the latest ugly neologism.» —“Obama’s...
The hosts discuss two Obamafications: Obamanation and Obamination. Slate’s book and web widget include many Barack Obama-derived words in Obamamania!: The English Language, Barackafied. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...