Remember a few years ago when Amazon introduced that mysterious device called a Kindle? People worried that electronic readers would replace traditional books. Turns out the death of the hardcover was greatly exaggerated. Also, the expression “bump...
Did you know reading poetry improves your prose? That includes hip-hop lyrics, too. Also, how linguist can guess where you come from based on how you speak. What do you call someone who picks the chocolate out of the trail mix? Plus, champing at...
Mary, from Royal Oaks, Michigan, says she once confused a friend by offering to relieve her of snow shoveling duties with the question, “Can I spell you?” This usage of spell, which refers to substituting for a period of time, has been deemed...
Quiz Guy Greg Pliska has a royal quiz in honor of the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. He celebrates the wedding of the King and Queen with clues to answers that contain the letters “K” and “Q” next to each other. The answer to “The...
supermajor n.— «Only 10 years after “supermajor” entered the oil industry’s lexicon, the term is already showing its age. At the end of 2000, once the oil industry’s mega-mergers were completed, the combined market capitalisation of ExxonMobil...
showie n.— «Lew Osborne has been a travelling “showie” all his life, bringing four rides, including the Mega Drop, and 12 sideshow games to the Perth Royal Show that starts this weekend.…A showie is a person who travels from show to show, running...