A recent fire in Grant’s apartment building has him pondering the role played by fire in English idioms. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Language of Fires” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette. And I’m Grant...
sorry gift n.— «Because guilt over spending is playing a big role in the sales downturn, he teaches salespeople to suggest a “sorry gift”—of another timepiece—for a wife who might be disappointed that her husband just dropped a sizable sum on his...
pinger v.— «As searchers continue to comb thousands of square miles of ocean for debris from Air France Flight 447, their success could hinge on a device the size of a small flashlight that may well have been manufactured on Cape Cod. French...
hindcast v.— «In his own work—which has included searches for objects ranging from containers of pollutants to crashed airliners—Fish uses a process called hindcasting. The process begins with documenting the exact location of debris found floating...
actorist n.— Note: “Actorvist” is a more common word with the same meaning. «Blending theatrics and activism is a role well suited to Guzmán-Orozco, who even has a name for it—“actorist.” He explains, “I’ve used performances to teach about...
capital call n.— «“Right now, it’s still status quo, with the Linas controlling the majority (shares) of Burger King and Romero, who will infuse fresh capital into the company for a projected expansion, conducting due diligence,” the professor said...
