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language

“Peddling” Lies vs. “Pedaling” Lies

“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” –Mark Twain Once upon a time, unscrupulous people were said to “push” or “peddle” lies. In an era of ubiquitous fake news, apparently that’s not energetic enough. Now, if a lie is to get anywhere (never mind “around...
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6. “You’re My Anchor”: Compliment or Dis?

“Ball & Chain” vs. Source of Stability/Emotional Support A “contronym” is word that is its own antonym. Examples include the word “left” (“the gentlemen have left and the ladies are left”); and “off” (“to turn off,” but also “activate,” as in “the alarm went off”). So, what do you call a symbol — like an anchor —...
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California Closets & Florida Ceilings

“You Say To-may-toe, I Say To-mah-toe” (sort of) If there’s such as thing as “California closets” (there is), why can’t there be “Florida ceilings?” At least, that’s what my now-12 year old daughter used to think. Geographic Adjectives; “Do-I-Haf-Ta?!?” It turns out that what she mistook for “Florida” was actually “floor to, presumably as in “floor-to-ceiling windows,” “floor-to-ceiling...
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Why Is Calling Something (or Someone) “Tasteless” an Insult?

The Color Taste of Water Water usually doesn’t have a taste, and people don’t object to that. Ditto for celery. So why is calling something — like a comment, a work of art, or an article of clothing — “tasteless” a dis? “Taste-Free” vs. “Tasteless” Clearly, what the speaker intends to say is, “in bad taste.”...
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