Tag: language

• The dramatic roots of “explode”

  In Ancient Rome, theatergoers would drive actors they didn’t like off stage by clapping very loudly. The custom ultimately gives us the word explode. Last Friday, after seven years decrying Obamacare, House Republicans pulled their bill to replace it. It was an explosive event, and, from President Trump, it met with an ‘explosive’ response: “I’ve been saying for…

  John Kelly

  March 28, 2017

  Feature

• Etymology of the Day: What is the “stir” in “stir-crazy”?

  After a long winter, the short days and dark nights, our cold houses and heavy coats, begin to feel like a prison. They make us go stir-crazy, as we say. But why stir? Is it because the confinement make us stir with restlessness? Confinement, it turns out, is behind the stir in stir-crazy, just much more…

  John Kelly

  March 27, 2017

  Etymology of the Day

• Etymology of the Day: Heyday

  Back in my heyday, we’ve heard our fathers so often begin some boast of long-lost glory. The heyday of the train, the heyday of radio, the heyday of the flip-phone – each of these remembers some technological golden age of yore. Perhaps you’ve wondered: What is the hey– in heyday? As it turns out, we’re…

  John Kelly

  March 16, 2017

  Etymology of the Day

• Etymology of the Day: Skosh

  “Some more coffee?” “Just a skosh more, please.” “These brownies are so delicious!” “I add a skosh of cayenne pepper to the batter.” Skosh is a fun and informal term for a small amount or a little, but its origins are mighty surprising. .

  John Kelly

  March 13, 2017

  Etymology of the Day

• Etymology of the Day: Eavesdrop

  You’re on a train or at a cafe. A juicy bit of conversation catches your ear. You pretend to mind your book or your phone. Secretly,  though, you go on eavesdropping. Does our auditory snooping actually have anything to do with the eaves of our houses? In fact, it has everything to do with them,…

  John Kelly

  March 9, 2017

  Etymology of the Day