Obamamania, Obamabot, Obamathon, Obamamentum— the list of variations on the name “Obama” goes on and on. Is there an English word that means “the in-laws of your son or daughter”? And what does it mean when someone...
When it comes to books, some people are pack rats; others make a point of periodically culling from the word herd. In a recent New York Times essay, Laura Miller describes her own mixed feelings about getting rid of unwanted books. A full shelf of...
Proverbs pack great truths into a few well-chosen words, no matter which language you speak. Check out this one from Belize: “Don’t call the alligator a big-mouth till you have crossed the river.” And this truism from Zanzibar:...
howling survey n.— «Every so often, they would stop their truck, step out, and howl. The technique, known as a howling survey, is one way for wildlife officials to make contact with and count the number of wolves in an area.» —“New...
facetimer n.—Gloss: Cornell University slang for a person who only attends and event or appears in public in order to be seen by others. «So, to sum it all up, playing the Terriers does pack more fans into Conte Forum—the game was...
monkey shit n.— «Back in my Navy days, working in Aft Engine Room on an repair ship, we had lots of cables (electric wires) running around—and passing thru bulkheads and into junction boxes, etc. At each point they passed into or thru...