We’re continuing our look at some of the words of the year of 2008 with words related to automobiles.
The British publishers of the Collins dictionary have announced 24 words on their endangered species list. They’re words like “vilipend,” which means “to treat with contempt,” and “nitid,” that’s n-i-t...
If a tippler has one too many, he’s said to be “three sheets to the wind.” But why three? And why, of all things, sheets? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Three Sheets to the Wind” Martha, we’ve...
Pat, a fisherman in San Diego, hears mariners use snotty weather for rough offshore conditions, such as large swells, whitecaps, and wind above 10 or 15 knots. The phrase does not seem to mean cold weather that brings sniffles. Examples go back at...
show me run n.— «“We have what is called a show me run, where our lead plane pilot (in a smaller plane) shows us where he wants us to drop,” Colonel Barkdull said. “He describes the start point and where he wants the line to...
moondust n.— «They must choose between snatching an hour of sleep or using the precious time to clean their weapons, which often jam from the fine sand—which soldiers call “moondust”—that is swept up by incessant winds...