In Japan, if you want to order a corndog, you ask for an Amerikan doggu (アメリカンドッグ). These types of coinages are called wasei-eigo, or “Japanese-made English,” and there are lots of them. Plus, there’s an atmospheric optical...
Robert in Oak Park, Illinois, seeks a Portuguese phrase he once heard that a man might say when the object of his affection is out of their league or otherwise forever unattainable. This wistful phrase is Ela é muita areia pro meu caminhãozinho or...
What’s happening linguistically when someone’s using the second-person singular possessive in a list of items? A Charlottesville, Virginia, caller began wondering that recently after hearing a wood-flooring salesperson say, “You got your...
D2D n.— «“It’s missionary work turned into a business,” said Cameron Treu, 30, who served his mission in Chile and was recruited into D2D (that is door-to-door in sales lingo) by another former missionary.» —“Door to Door as...
mill and fill n.— «Colo. 131 was on CDOT’s short-list in the region for repaving, Shanks said. “It needed it somewhat badly—when they have to do a full-blown ‘mill and fill’ as they call it, the road clearly needed some rehabilitation,”...
suitcase scientist n.— «Maryville resident Bill Cabage, a spokesman for Oak Ridge National Laboratory, said ORNL’s frequent fliers are referred to as “suitcase scientists.” Those scientists with their carry-on luggage and laptops are...