Month: May 2016

• The etymological pivot of “pivot”

  All eyes are on Donald Trump to see if he will pivot to a more presidential bearing now that he’s the presumptive nominee of the Republican party. But who am I kidding? All eyes have been on the businessman. My etymological eyes, however, have been on pundits’ and reporters’ go-to term for Trump’s potential repositioning:…

  John Kelly

  May 13, 2016

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• Etymology on the streets

  I haven’t even been settled for a week and I’m already in love with my new city, Dublin. The people and culture are absolutely wonderful, of course, but the etymology is world-class. Even something as simple as taking out my dog surprises me with lexical delights, like this utility marker I noticed on a recent…

  John Kelly

  May 10, 2016

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• Why do we “clinch” a nomination?

  And then there was one. Ted Cruz and John Kasich have ended their presidential campaigns after Donald Trump trounced them in the Indiana primary. Just over 200 delegates shy of securing it outright, Trump has virtually clinched the Republican party’s nomination for president. But why do we say that: to clinch a nomination? Clinch Outside…

  John Kelly

  May 6, 2016

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• What’s up with all those letters we don’t say in “Leicester”?

  Against all odds, the Leicester City Football Club clinched England’s Premier League title on Monday. Far and wide, millions of lovers of football – and Cinderella stories – cheered the unlikely champions. And as many, perhaps, learned how to pronounce the name of this club and city. Leicester, in spite of its extra characters, sounds…

  John Kelly

  May 3, 2016

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