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Currently viewing the tag: "Shoes"

Hairy at the Heel

Posted by Grant Barrett on March 28, 2017 · Add Comment

A Courtland, Alabama, woman wonders about the phrase hairy at the heel. Along with hairy-heeled, hairy about the heels, and hairy about the fetlocks, this snobby term describes someone who is considered ill-bred. It derives from the fact that non-thoroughbred horses often have tufts of hair above their hooves. This is part of a complete [...]

Rubber Match

Posted by Grant Barrett on September 1, 2012 · 1 Comment

What’s the antidote to living in a sound-bite world? How about unwinding with luxuriously expressive prose? Also, the cloak-and-dagger world of editing dictionary entries. Plus, what you might say instead of cursing, and oddball Scrabble words to stump your opponent. And what do you call the shoes sometimes known as sneakers, sneakers, or trainers? Also: [...]

Sneakers vs. Tennis Shoes vs. Trainers

Posted by Grant Barrett on September 1, 2012 · 1 Comment

How do you refer to rubber-soled athletic shoes? Are they sneakers or tennis shoes? Something else, like trainers? When canvas shoes with soft rubber soles came into use, they were so quiet compared to wood-soled shoes that one could literally sneak about. Outside the Northeast, tennis shoe is the more common term. This is part [...]

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Hairy at the Heel

Rubber Match

Sneakers vs. Tennis Shoes vs. Trainers