by Kevin Burton My granddaughter says it. She’s the only one in my circles who does. Thank God. The copy-cat utterances of children have heretofore not been chronicled on Page 7 (Page 7!, Page 7!, Page 7!!). But this “6-7” thing is so ubiquitous that even Merriam-Webster dictionary is forced to pay attention …
Category Archives: language
Look Both Ways And Beware Of Jay Drivers
by Kevin Burton What I see 20 feet away, you can see 200 feet away. By definition therefore, I am legally blind. So you would think, all other things being equal, my career as a jaywalker could/should be painfully short, or maybe even disastrously shortened. I was very nearly run over by …
Talking Turkey And Thanksgiving Terms
by Dictionary Scoop Thanksgiving is more than just turkey, family gatherings, and football games; it’s a time stuffed with unique words that make perfect sense in the spirit of the season. The holiday’s vocabulary is as rich as the meal itself. Join us as we explore ten Thanksgiving-related words that carry meanings, histories, and fun trivia. 1-Bounty: …
The Weird And Wonderful Words Of Winter
by Kevin Burton Winter has some words for you, even as you perhaps, have some muttered, unkind words for winter. Merriam-Webster dictionary is just a collector of words, and I a mere humble blogger. So we’re not worthy of blame, though we have conspired today to bring you words you would rather not …
Breaking Ice, Chewing Fat, 12 Social Idioms
by Dictionary Scoop We often say things like “break the ice” or “hit it off” when discussing hanging out with people, without giving much thought to these idioms. But each one has a specific origin and meaning. Have you ever stopped to think about these 12? 1-Break the ice The phrase “break the …
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An Unabridged Look At Abbreviations
by Dictionary Scoop You probably rattle off “PIN,” “USB,” or “Mrs.” without hesitating, but do you actually know what those letters stand for? Some abbreviations come from Latin, some from long-lost measurements, and a few make absolutely no sense at first glance. So let’s dive into the interesting roots of 12 common abbreviations …
Adjectives You Didn’t Know You Needed
by Kevin Burton A friend in college called herself “Madam Loquacia” to make light of the fact that she talked a lot. Now that’s what I call making the most of your adjectives! (See number 8 on our list below.) Strong muscles help a person who is blessed with them do work. …
SNL Bits, And Harsh Words By Definition
by Kevin Burton I say “Jane you ignorant slut,” and you of a certain age know exactly what I am talking about. It’s an old Saturday Night Live bit from the 70s, Point/Counterpoint, a sendup of the political opinion shows and a similar segment on 60 Minutes. Jane Curtin spoke in favor of …
Ten Hard-To-Explain English Language Quirks
by Kevin Burton I went to college to become a journalist. But before I got there I was, briefly, an English teacher. And I had to defend some of the nonsense you will see below. English got to be the dominant language of the world (the lingua franca for aviation, among other industries) …
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Our Love Of Words Includes Words Of Love
by Kevin Burton Yes, today’s list of words about love from Merriam-Webster Dictionary comes just in time for Sweetest Day which is coming up Saturday, but these words are not all cuddle-worthy. This list looks at love “from both sides now,” like the Joni Mitchell song made famous by Judy Collins. There’s some …
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