A Way with Words | Milwaukee

Make A Train Take A Dirt Road

Posted by Grant Barrett on May 31, 2014 · 1 Comment

read more »

Milwaukee Goiter

Posted by grantbarrett on November 2, 2013 · Add Comment

Among Sconnies, or Wisconsinites, a synonym for beer belly is Milwaukee goiter. This is part of a complete episode.
read more »

Where Do You Buy Alcohol?

Posted by Grant Barrett on November 10, 2012 · Add Comment

What do you call the place you purchase adult beverages? Is it a liquor store or a package store? Package store is common in the Northeast, while folks in Milwaukee know it as the beer depot, and Pennsylvanians might call it the ABC store. Tell us your preferred term! This is part of a complete [...]
read more »

banana ball

Posted by Grant Barrett on April 22, 2007 · Add Comment

banana ball n.— «Golfers who hit “banana balls”—the term for a weak, ballooning, left-to-right ball flight (for a right-handed player)—found that they were able to hit the ball much straighter with Burns’ club.» —“Providing cure for ailing shots” by Gary D’Amato Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Apr. 21, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
read more »

tail cost

Posted by Grant Barrett on February 8, 2007 · Add Comment

tail cost n.— «That was not counting so-called tail costs, such as caring for veterans and replacing lost equipment, which the Iraq Study Group said “will run into the hundreds of billions of dollars.”» —“The Iraq war has cost each of us $1,333—so far” by Bill Glauber Journal-Sentinel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Feb. 6, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
read more »

cheese curtain

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 11, 2007 · Add Comment

cheese curtain n.— «Mid November, behind the cheese curtain is not known for its balmy climes or great trail conditions, but this particular November day turned out to be dry, with a few peaks at blue sky.» —“BBRS Ride with the Bums” Bike Black Ribbon (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Nov. 19, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
read more »

Newsletter

Contact

Listen