Since the 1950’s, the term think tank has meant “a research institute.” But even earlier than that, going as far back as the 1880’s, think tank referred “a person’s mind.” Another slang term for one’s...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s latest puzzle requires players to guess the last word in a two-line verse. For example: “He’s seven feet tall and big as a tank, The meanest Marine that you’ve ever BLANK.” (Stumped? Take a...
Pickle, baboon, cupcake, snorkel, pumpkin, Kalamazoo—let’s face it, some words are just plain funny. But what makes some words funnier than others? Martha and Grant consider this question with an assist from Neil Simon’s play (and movie)...
tank n.— «The caddies work six days a week, assigned at “the bench” above Sankaty’s parking lot. Carrying one bag—a tank in camp parlance—nets $70, in addition to a tip that averages about $20.» —“At Camp Sankaty Head, Young Caddies...
cohort v.— «As patients entered, they were “cohorted,” in medical lingo, meaning that they were separated from the general population and quarantined in a 40-foot hallway (normally a psychiatric emergency area), lined with molded plastic...
Does the expression to boot, as in “I’ll sell you this Hummer and throw in a free tank of gas to boot,” have anything to do with booting up a computer? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “To Boot” Hello...