The world of politics tops this week’s language headlines, including an explanation of the Bradley effect, and the ongoing debate over bilingual education. Also, what does the word fubsy mean? Grant has the answer and reports about a new...
hopey-changey adj.— «It’s clear from this article that “Obama Fan” is merely an almost clinically accurate descriptor. Too bad the article steps on Obama’s message at the Convention by going all hopey-changey, though...
beer track n.— «That’s because Maryland, said Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science at University of Maryland Baltimore County, has become a “wine track” state, similar to California, New Jersey and...
break late v. phr.— «In Illinois, at least, large numbers of black voters tend to take their time making up their minds. In political parlance, they “break late.”» —“Why Obama will surprise national political...
latte liberal n.— «Mr. Rush’s district, the state’s most Democratic, was 65 percent black. And in 1999, it included not only Hyde Park, home of the University of Chicago, but several relatively affluent Irish-American neighborhoods. There...
calor licitantis n.— «Confused, the team tried a larger sample—this time observing thousands of iPod auctions. In that case, 45 to 50% of eBay auctions exceeded the “buy it now” price, she says. Expanding the pool again, they...