Jeremy calls from Charleston, South Carolina, to say that when he lived in southeast New Hampshire, he was puzzled by the use of a seemingly negative response to indicate something positive. For example, if he said I drive a red car and his listener...
Jim from Bowling Green, Kentucky, says he’s heard some folks in his area use the phrase “I don’t care” when they mean to accept an offer. This affirmative use is somewhat similar to saying “Don’t mind if I...
spermative action n.— «The numbers send booksellers reeling, begging writers for novels friendly to women’s book clubs. More women apply to college today than men, leading to male affirmative action, so-called “spermative action...
box-checker n.— «Noley and Chenault have a name for those who would use spurious ties to tribal heritage to further their employment opportunities. They call them “box-checkers.” According to Chenault, some job candidates simply “check...
mock-checker n.— «Noley and Chenault have a name for those who would use spurious ties to tribal heritage to further their employment opportunities. They call them “box-checkers.” According to Chenault, some job candidates simply “check...
radcon n.— «Why are so many of these angry workers, who can barely pay their family’s bills, voting for radical conservative (“Radcon,” in Reich’s parlance) Republicans instead of Democrats? Because, Reich answers, the Radcons...
