A Way with Words

roller

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

roller n.— «I reined in the speedy pace and tried to find a rhythm over the first three miles, where we encountered “rollers”—in running parlance, those are mellow hills with ups and downs that wake up your legs, but aren’t so challenging that they leave you breathless.» —“Oh deer! Hills and more at the March Madness Half [...]

graveyard month

Posted by Grant Barrett on February 21, 2009 · Add Comment

graveyard month n.— «February and March are known in the retail industry as the “graveyard months,” the time when wealthy owners find themselves some sunshine on an expensive cruise liner waiting for the spring recovery.» —“Recession’s rocky road” by James Cusick Sunday Herald (Glasgow, Scotland) Feb. 7, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

go grassy knoll on someone

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 28, 2009 · Add Comment

go grassy knoll on someone v. phr.— Note: To indulge in talk or thoughts of a possible conspiracy. «It’s probably nothing, and God knows I don’t want to go all grassy knoll on you. Just passing along the latest rumors.» —“Paranoia Watch” by Kevin Drum Washington Monthly: Political Animal March 31, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

taco neck

Posted by Grant Barrett on June 4, 2008 · Add Comment

taco neck n.— «On a Tuesday afternoon in March, I woke up with what I call “taco neck.” The muscles on one side of my neck had locked, and my head leaned to the other side, as if I was about to take a bite from a taco.» —“Ending with a question” by George Rede The Oregonian (Portland) June 2, 2008. [...]

suspense list

Posted by Grant Barrett on March 5, 2008 · Add Comment

suspense list n.— «Texas has over 12.6 million voters as of January 2008. 1.8 million of that total are on what is known as a “suspense list.” The suspense list is generated when registrars mail out a certificate every two years, which is returned if the address is invalid. Voters on the suspense list may vote [...]

Road Trip!

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 28, 2008 · Add Comment

Welcome to another edition of the A Way with Words newsletter! On the air this past weekend we chatted with listeners about the driving games "padiddle" and "slug bug," about the pronunciation of "aunt," about the pastry called the "bismarck," and we had a follow-up on the word "biffy" as a name for a portable [...]

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roller

graveyard month

go grassy knoll on someone

taco neck