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Some Words Are Older Than You'd Think Dec. 14, 2022
What's the lowdown on the commuter with the nifty T-shirt? You might peg that sentence as a slice of... Read More
Phrase Origins? Let's Cut to the Chase! Oct. 26, 2022
Let's see how many readers' questions about word origins I can answer in 90 seconds! No. 1: "The who... Read More
Misuse of 'As' Can Cause Fumbles Sep. 14, 2022
The tiny word "as," like a routine handoff in football, smoothly links one part of the action to ano... Read More
Coming Clean on Word Origins Dec. 29, 2021
"It's as clean as a whistle," my father would often say after washing the family car. I always thoug... Read More
Bank 'Bail Outs' Reflect Every Sense of the Term Sep. 08, 2021
Q: When we talk about bailouts of banks, does "bail" refer to bailing out a boat with a bucket or to... Read More
This Phrase Produces a 'Lump' in Your Throat Feb. 17, 2021
A friend recently told me he didn't give a hoot whether a speech he was writing might offend some pe... Read More
Coach Gets a Lesson in 'Wet'-ymology Feb. 03, 2021
Early in my teaching career, I was coaching a boys' cross-country team at a local park when my runne... Read More
Marrying into a Complicated Family Oct. 31, 2018
Dear Annie: My fiance is amazing, sensitive and wonderful. The only problem is his sister. When we ... Read More
Telling Some 'Folk' Tales Aug. 13, 2014
Q. During a recent plane trip, the chief flight attendant repeatedly referred to us passengers as "f... Read More
