Old-school news, just in time
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 …
Continue reading “Breaking Ice, Chewing Fat, 12 Social Idioms”
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 …
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. …
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 …
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) …
Continue reading “Ten Hard-To-Explain English Language Quirks”
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 …
by Dictionary Scoop Some of our everyday vocabulary was never supposed to happen. From pronunciation blunders to translation mishaps, these words made it into the English language completely by accident. Grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy these amusing little mix-ups that stuck around longer than anyone expected. 1-That’s not how you spell ‘expedite’ …
by Dictionary Scoop Poetry is as diverse as the individuals who write it—from short, playful rhymes to long, heartfelt verses, with some forms following strict rules and others allowing complete freedom. This wide variety enables poets from all walks of life to express themselves in unique ways. Take a look at the following …
by Kevin Burton At one of my newspaper stops I was introduced to readers as speaking “fluent Spanish” That wasn’t, and isn’t, quite true. But I do speak some Spanish and it has done me some good over the years. How much Spanish do I speak? I once described it as “enough …
Continue reading “Now The Dictionary Is Speaking My Language”
by Kevin Burton “Do you want to see a movie?” my wife Jeannette will ask me, thinking of a fun diversion. “What’s playing?” I will ask. “I don’t know,” she will say, exasperated. “If I don’t know what’s playing, how do I know if I want to go?” I will say, as …
Continue reading “What’s Playing At The Movies This Weekend?”
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