ask
n.— «The objective of his four-year contract must be to organise and embolden a group of ordinary players and set them a target of qualification for the European Championship Finals of 2008. As modern parlance has it, even this will be quite an ask.» —“Look on bright side…the only way is up” by Alan Davidson Evening Times (U.K.) Dec. 31, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when people disagreed over the best word to use when answering the phone. Alexander Graham Bell suggested answering with ahoy! but Thomas Edison was partial to hello! A fascinating new book about...
Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an opinionated romp through English grammar, a Spanish-language adventure novel, an account of 19th-century dictionary wars, and a gorgeously illustrated...