by Dictionary Scoop When a new year arrives, we focus on time. And because time plays such a central role in our lives, it’s no surprise that it’s also a key part of our everyday language. Today we’re exploring the origins and meanings of ten time-related idioms you’ve probably never stopped to think about. 1-A …
Category Archives: language
A Pack Of Good And Quirky Words To Learn
by Kevin Burton Getting these word-list e-mails from Dictionary Scoop is a little like it was to open a new pack of baseball cards in the old days. You might get Gary Sutherland, you might get Johnny Bench. In fact you always got a mixture of stars and scrubs. Today’s list of …
Nine Fishy Words From A Long, Fishy Book
by Kevin Burton I hear it’s a whale of a book, but I haven’t read it. So sorry. Moby-Dick This comes up because our friends at Merriam-Webster dictionary have compiled a list of nine fun and weird words from Moby-Dick. I hear the book is very long also. So the dictionary …
What Does “6-7” Even Mean? Nothing
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 …
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. …
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