Wordwizard

In an interesting article titled ‘The Rich Kid Revolutionaries: Children of privilege, like Abigail Disney, are taking a moral stand against inequality,’ I came across a word that I never knew could be used as a verb: <2019 “Immigrants who ‘make it’ are often seen to exemplify the American dream of ...

Thanks Erik. Interesting!

You have USA: trash truck

I have never heard the expression 'trash truck' used. I've always heard and used 'garbage truck.'
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Ken - April 25, 2019

Tintoretto [[famed artist of Renaissance Venice]] didn’t idealize his godly or saintly subjects and set them at a remove . He put us nose-close to figures in swirling, cinematic motion; “his high-wire scenes dare us to look away.”— The Week , 26 April, page 23 A few years back when I wrote the post...

Tony, Excellent piece of research!! And I agree as you said: <“From this one might imagine that ‘daylight robbery’ was derived from the criminal offence or from the subsequent taxation. And, possibly, from both.”> The subsequent taxation could nicely cover the figurative meaning of an excessive fina...

I just recalled that I had discussed “Daylight Robbery” in a posting many moons ago (see daylight robbery ). It is always a good idea before posting to do a search to see if the topic has been previously discussed. Just for the record, I’ll provide the OED ’s definitions here and a few more recent q...

A father passing by his son’s bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to 'Dad.' With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter...

I recently saw this notice. To help improve the economy, President Trump will announce next month that the Immigration Department will start deporting seniors (instead of illegals) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs. Older people are easier to catch and will not remember how to get...

worn to a frazzle Yesterday I went to the gym and did a strenuous workout. On the way out I ran into a young fellow there (somewhere in his early twenties) who I had talked to on and off for the last several years. He asked me how my workout was and I told him I was worn to a frazzle . He then said...

Phil and Tony, Thanks for the input. It always amazes me when I come across an attention-grabbing expression, not easily forgotten such as this one, that I've gone through my whole life - and I'm no spring chicken (<:) - and have never seen before. How vast the English language! ________________ Ke...

<2019 “Yangsze Choo’s new novel [ The Night Tiger ] weaves together several ‘tantalizing twisted strands,’ said Patty Rhulle in USA Today . In 1930s Malaysia, a boy sent to find his master’s severed finger crosses paths with a taxi dancer working to cover her mother’s mah-jong debts.”— The Week , 2...

<2019 “Perhaps you are someone who thinks honey is just honey. Or tea is just tea. Or olive oil is just olive oil. Or water is just water. Or a cigar is just a cigar. Or mustard is just mustard. If so, you’re likely skeptical of a honey sommelier , a tea sommelier , an olive oil sommelier , a water...

Over the last several months I have seen the word “unicorn” used in a way which I am not familiar with. I wrote down a quote I saw in the NYTimes last month, but was jolted into looking into it when I came across it again in a magazine I was reading. Here are the two quotes: <2019 “The Next Wave of ...

One morning a husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book. Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and...

Tony, Thanks for adding this word and its origin to our collection. I really like it. It’s a word so commonly used, yet I had never given a thought as to where it came from and nor had it ever been discussed in all the many years of Wordwizard’s existence. I’ll give it my official treatment here for...

Steve,

A few words that readily come to mind are foulmouth, potty-mouth, cusser, and curser.
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Ken Greenwald - March 8, 2019