Hello, everybody, it’s another newsletter from A Way with Words. Over the weekend, our latest episode concentrated on the ever-popular topic of words people mispronounce on purpose, the pronunciation of “beaux arts,” and the...
Tomnibus n.— «A product of Democratic frustration with the tactics of Senator Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican and physician who has become the Dr. No of the Senate, the Tomnibus is a $10 billion collection of Coburn-blocked measures...
snizzle n.— «I remember when Gary coined the word “snizzle”…There just wasn’t a way to describe the stuff that’s not quite snow but not quite drizzle.» —“Former Tulsa meteorologist passes away” KJRH...
wedding moon n.— «The resort offers a deal to those who are about to be married—guests who stay five night or longer are treated to a free wedding. Reynolds has also planned “wedding moons,” as she calls them, in Cozumel, Mexico; Hawaii...
spill-over bill n.— «One of the rites of passage for legislators is a vote that occurs near the end of each legislative year on what is known as the “spill-over” bill. This is a massive spending bill that is used as a way to dole out...
chill suit n.— «In an effort to preserve her brain function, doctors at Oklahoma Heart Hospital put Jill in what’s called a “chill suit.” “We moved directly to this induced hypothermia, which is basically a refrigerated...