Statue of Liberty
n.— «Whether it’s frenetic fanning or the stock-still pose known as the Statue of Liberty, overusing the paddle is the easiest way to come off like a neophyte. If you’re throwing around that much money, don’t worry: the auctioneer will keep his eye on you. A simple nod or hand lift will suffice.» —“Rule No. 1: Don’t Yell, ‘My Kid Could Do That'” by Greg Allen New York Times Nov. 5, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Corey in Buffalo, New York, says her family uses the word unta for “the piece of bread you use to sop up the last bite of what you’re eating.” They also use it as a verb, as in I’m going to unta. Her family is half Sephardic...
A hundred years ago, suffragists lobbied to win women the right to vote. Linguistically speaking, though, suffrage isn’t about “suffering.” It’s from a Latin word that involves voting. Plus: military cadences often include...