Learn how two famous speeches, centuries apart, are linked by a common rhetorical device — You are probably familiar with the hypozeuxis but just don’t know it. Don’t worry — it is not a terminal or incurable medical condition. A hypozeuxis (pronounced “hi PUH zook sis”) is a rhetorical term for a series of brief parallel clauses where each clause has its own subject and…

The fascinating history of the archaic word for a flirting glance — Have you ever been at a bar or restaurant and been the object of an oeillade? If so, you might have been blushing or smiling — or both. An oeillade is actually very flattering (unless you have ereuthrophobia, fear of blushing) — it is defined as a glance, especially a…

The earliest appearance of a uniquely American idiom — It’s vulgar, it’s evocative, it’s distinctively American, and there’s actually a second part of the original phrase that gives it even more color. You’ve likely encountered it as, “I don’t have a pot to piss in,” “So poor he didn’t have a pot to piss in,” or “Ain’t got a…

Learn the fascinating history of the term for skipping stones. — “I remember when rock was young. Me and Susie had so much fun. Holding hands and skimming stones. Had an old gold Chevy, and a place of my own…” Those are, of course, the lyrics to Elton John’s hit rock song “Crocodile Rock” from the Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only…

Everything you need to know about an increasingly useful word: “Agnotology.” — If you’ve been following recent crises — like the Covid pandemic, the OxyContin epidemic, the denial of climate change, the denial of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, the record-setting Fox News defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over the broadcast of falsehoods, the claim that the 2020 Presidential election…

It’s not just an idiom — at one point there were real cigars involved. — Most people have heard the idiom, “Close, but no cigar” (or its variant “Nice try, but no cigar”) and instantly understood the meaning: To fall just short of accomplishing a goal, or to get something nearly — but not completely — correct. But when you stop to think about it…

Nothing brings more pleasure to a book lover than the rich aroma of used books. — A fews decades ago, in a top ten list of holiday gifts to give or receive, books were the number one gift. (Today, according to Statista, the top five gifts for consumers are: clothing, toys/hobbies, gift cards, and food.) One of the most cherished memories of those earlier times was…

“Love occupies a central place in people’s expectations and wishes, but these often remain unfulfilled,” writes philosophy professor Aaron Ben-Zeev (“The Love Paradox,” Psychology Today, April 21, 2013). “Love songs, novels, and movies have emphasized the great hopes and profound happiness associated with love, as well as the great disappointments…

Although the first thought that comes to people’s minds when they think of airports is annoyance (long lines, lengthy layovers, intrusive security checks, etc.), airports are incredible, magical places. We take it for granted that each day millions of people are transported to far-away places around the globe in hours…