Kathleen Madigan: “What’s wrong with calling someone a ‘tool’? Jerry Seinfeld: “Tools are good.” Kathleen Madigan: “Right.” Jerry Seinfeld: “Tools are completely without consciousness.” Kathleen Madigan: “So are a million things; why aren’t you a ‘chair?’ “That guy’s a chair.” Chuck Martin: “That guy’s a real Ottoman.” Kathleen Madigan: “I would go for footstool. Or...Read More
Hey! Comedy Central Writers! It it weren’t politically incorrect — and potentially all too true, depending on how events unfold — I might point out that “Crimea” lends itself to some interesting word play, ala Gilda Radner opining on “saving Soviet Jewelry” or the Supreme Court ruling on “the deaf penalty” (as befuddled character Emily Litella,...Read More
In Conclusion . . . What’s the opposite of “winterize?” (as in, “winterize a pool, cabin, etc.”). Answer: ‘summerize.” 🙂 For more in this (corny) vein, see “USPS Forever Stamps,” “What’s the Past Tense of Sight See?”; “Landmark ” or Watermark?”; “Dried vs. MORE Dried Apricots“; “Wild and Crazy” (vs. Conventional) Fruit; and “What’s the...Read More
Regular readers of this blog know that I have a . . . well, quirky sense of humor — plus a love of language, odd constructions thereof, and word plays. In that vein, I’ve written such posts as, “What’s the Past Tense of Sight See?”; “Landmark — or Watermark?”; “Dried vs. MORE Dried Apricots“; and...Read More
What’s in a Word Letter? OK, it’s a little cute (a lot?), but consider how little separates the words “induct” (“Edina Realty Founder Emma Rovick inducted in Realtor Hall of Fame”) and “indict” (“Wall Street bad guy indicted for fraud, insider trading”). The difference? Where “induct” has a “u,” indict has an “i.” And maybe there’s...Read More
