A recent article in The New Yorker magazine about the late writer David Foster Wallace has Martha musing about Wallace’s stem-winding sentences, and the word stem-winder.
job blocker n.— «It’s no wonder that many tattooists themselves refer to them as “job blockers.” How can you take seriously anyone who has a fire-breathing winged serpent / the names of their three kids in sanskrit / the logo of a...
loser cruiser n.— «When a class goes on a field trip, they should take the bus. It might even help us wean ourselves from the recently acquired habit of chauffeuring kids everywhere they ever go. Is it any wonder they grow up to refer to...
socked in adj.— «Yes, it sure was a foggy commute this morning. During the morning broadcast, we used the term “socked in” a lot. This is to let you know where the fog is really dense. It does make you wonder what a sock has...
Everyone knows the term stereotype, but did you ever stop to wonder what the word has to do with stereos? Not much, really. But it does derive from the world of printing. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Etymology of...
lick n.— «Many folks in the rest of the country wonder why anyone would want to live in such a flood-prone place. Luke becomes visibly tense at the subject and responds, “It’s a way of life,” referring to living on the water...