Hi, all! Our most recent episode is a favorite archive edition: "A Roberta of Flax," with funny collective nouns for plants, plus the game "Telephone," the use of "whenever" with reference to a one-time event, and...
molecular condom n.— «For a decade now, scientists have been working to develop an HIV-blocking vaginal gel, a microbicide often called a molecular condom.» —“Better than a Condom?” by Jeneen...
Zipcar capitalism n.— «While owning a home may be the American Dream, renting, at least for the moment, seems to be the new American theme. […] Some refer to it as “Zipcar Capitalism” in reference to the company that...
It’s one of the biggest grammatical bugaboos of all, the one that bedevils even the most earnest English students: Is it lie or lay? Martha shares a trick for remembering the difference. See below for her clip-and-save chart of these verbs...
sleep hangover n.— «Those medications can induce next-day grogginess—what some patients call “sleep hangovers.”» —“10 Ways to Get Better Sleep (and Maybe Cure Your Insomnia)” by Lindsay Lyon US News &...
sheepherder n.— «December brings renewed optimism to a stalwart set of anglers who wear metal cleats on their shoes to keep from slipping on algae-covered granite. And the season also favors the folks who target those striped fish with...