cannibalizing n.— «More worryingly, the conglomerate is continuing its use of a business practice known as “cannibalising,” whereby new stores are opened in close proximity to existing branches. The intention of this is that...
strap n.—Gloss: a firearm or a person carrying a firearm, i.e., a person who is “strapped,” which means carrying a concealed weapon. «A high-ranking gang member who was on life support after being shot, and whose sister was...
sister wife n.— «Wives married to the same man call themselves “sister wives.” The multiple children created by these families call all of the women “mother.” That’s part of the reason Texas is DNA testing the...
Death of the Typewriter Ding! In this week’s episode, Mark Twain would be pleased. Reports that it’s the end of the line for the typewriter have been greatly exaggerated. Well, slightly anyway: it’s not the horseless carriage...
Sundowner’s n.— «In March, my dad will be 86 years old. He has Alzheimer’s disease. My brothers, sister and I noticed changes in his personality about nine years ago. We are thankful he doesn’t get violent, although the evenings bring on...
A listener says his sister reprimanded him for using the term “rule of thumb.” She says the expression derives from an old British law that allowed a man to beat his wife with a stick, as long as it’s no wider than his thumb. Is...