Oh my stars and garters! Appears to be a reference to the British Order of the Garter. This highest level of knighthood is represented by a medal in the shape of an 8-pointed star. The order was established in the 14th century, when garters were a...
Peter from Camden, New Jersey, wonders about the phrases not by a long chalk and not by a long shot. The former is used in the United Kingdom, while the latter is commonly used in the United States. Both suggest the idea of missing a mark by a...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s puzzle is about common bonds that connect three things. For example, what’s the one word that links the following trio of terms? A report card, USDA inspected beef, and an incline. This is part of a complete...
Hundreds of years ago, the word girl didn’t necessarily mean a female child — in the 14th and 15th centuries, it could refer to a child of either sex. Only later did its meaning become more specific. • Some people think that referring to a...
Charlie Pierce of Devon, England, describes the UK tradition of wetting the baby’s head, a pub outing for a new or expectant father before the baby arrives. Friends buy the rounds, and the father-to-be is not supposed to pay for any of them. The...
Crew juice is what an airline crew drinks after a flight at the bar or on the way to the hotel. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Crew Juice” Granted, I have some more airline slang for you. Having crew juice on the...
