Christmas Archives – A Way with Words

Why “Merry” Christmas?

Posted by Grant Barrett on December 22, 2012 · Add Comment

Why must Christmas be merry, but no other holiday? What if you want a merry birthday? While merry‘s heyday was the 1800s, you still see the term, meaning “exuberant” or “joyful,” in phrases like go on your merry way or even merry-go-round. This is part of a complete episode.

Coursers They Came

Posted by Grant Barrett on December 20, 2011 · Add Comment

Sweet baby reindeer! It’s almost Christmas and we’ve got a lot of wrapping to do. Last weekend’s episode is live online and in iTunes. In it, we shared quotations about writing, talked about whether “ladies” is offensive, speculated about “defugalty” (a spelling pronunciation of “difficulty”), the football term “pick six,” and a whole lot more. [...]

hang iron

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 19, 2009 · Add Comment

hang iron v. phr.— «During snowstorms in Portland, Ore., before Christmas, Kelley had to chain up, or “hang iron” as he calls it. “It takes two hours to hang my iron.”» —“Road closures make a costly wait for truckers” by Julie Muhlstein HeraldNet (Everett, Washington) Jan. 9, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

murphy style

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 11, 2009 · Add Comment

murphy style n.— «I ask this question in the Christmas section because you always see gift packs with coffee beans and it’s not instant coffee. And I am always worried that the gift receipient doesn’t have a coffee maker. Yes, you can make it “murphy style” or some refer to it as cowboy or camp side [...]

chain up

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 9, 2009 · Add Comment

chain up v. phr.— «During snowstorms in Portland, Ore., before Christmas, Kelley had to chain up, or “hang iron” as he calls it. “It takes two hours to hang my iron.”» —“Road closures make a costly wait for truckers” by Julie Muhlstein HeraldNet (Everett, Washington) Jan. 9, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

sugar hat

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 5, 2009 · Add Comment

sugar hat n.— «The key is to find a sugar cone (also known as a “sugar hat”) which is a solid piece of white sugar that you can flame.» —“Feuerzangenbowle (Christmas Flaming Mulled Wine)” Celtnet Recipes Jan. 5, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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Why “Merry” Christmas?

hang iron

murphy style

chain up

sugar hat