Is this word still considered a racial slur? At one time it strongly implied an unscrupulous Jewish person, as in the usurer Shylock in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
When spelled correctly, it looks more evil, almost Tolkienish (next to Gorgoroth?), which of course would go against Google's "Do no Evil" credo. I'm sure this was deliberate.
Possibly antiquated dust-bowl era word; can't seem to find its definition. However it's frequently used by NY steel guitar / ukulele band The Moonlighters.
Wikipedia: "Ostranenie is the artistic technique of forcing the audience to see common things in an unfamiliar or strange way, in order to enhance perception of the familiar."
Another fascinating russian word with no direct english counterpart, like razbliuto.
I kind of cheated. Nail clipper and bottle opener are both on keychain. Stamps are inside daily planner. Pistachios and post-its are usually in shirt pocket (10% and 95% likelihood respectively).
Merriam-Webster says "triplet" has two syllables. However, drumming students are frequently taught to vocalise "trip-puh-lit" when learning to play this rhythm of three notes evenly spaced in one count.
marco_nj commented on the word shyster
Is this word still considered a racial slur? At one time it strongly implied an unscrupulous Jewish person, as in the usurer Shylock in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
Mar 30, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word nonplussed
Definition #2 "(adj): vs. unperplexed) -- (full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment) is a bit nonplussing in its double negativity.
Mar 29, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word void
Hearts: to be void in a suit is to not hold any cards in that suit
Jan 27, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word slough
In card games such as hearts, can be used as a verb for passing undesirable cards unto your opponents
Also a polo term: "The action taken by a defender when he moves away from his opponent to help defend in another area"
Jan 27, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word dirty deeds done dirt cheap
Common mondegreens include but are not limited to: "dirty deeds dunder jeep" and "thirty thieves and the thunder chief"
Jan 23, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word strident
"we're still telling it how it is, but we're less strident"
Jan 22, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word yen
"a yen for branded clothes"
Jan 22, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word cogent
"a cogent and concise narrative"
Jan 22, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word callow
"callow narcissism"
Jan 21, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word googol
Choosing to name the company, 'Google' rather than Googol?
Jan 17, 2009
marco_nj commented on the list synantonyms
gut & degut
Jan 17, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word googol
When spelled correctly, it looks more evil, almost Tolkienish (next to Gorgoroth?), which of course would go against Google's "Do no Evil" credo. I'm sure this was deliberate.
Jan 17, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word apotheosis
A favorite word of the New York Times
Jan 17, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word ficus
clearly underrated
Jan 17, 2009
marco_nj commented on the list diseases-that-make-lovely-baby-girls-names
These are great names for fantasy role playing gaming.
Jan 17, 2009
marco_nj commented on the word minuet
Nice when used unconventionally, as in a "conversational minuet"
Mar 31, 2008
marco_nj commented on the word perdition
As in "awaiting perdition"
Mar 31, 2008
marco_nj commented on the word bourgie porn
See Nancy Meyers movies
Dec 31, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word treacle
Cloying sentimental speech
Dec 31, 2006
marco_nj commented on the user jaybon
Jayboooooooooooone!
Dec 26, 2006
marco_nj commented on the list what-s-that-pokamon-name
Awesome list! But I thought Raticate was Rat + Eradicate :)
Dec 17, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word catonement
Possibly antiquated dust-bowl era word; can't seem to find its definition. However it's frequently used by NY steel guitar / ukulele band The Moonlighters.
Dec 16, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word delicatessen
Possibly a good name for a girl.
Dec 16, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word ostranenie
Wikipedia: "Ostranenie is the artistic technique of forcing the audience to see common things in an unfamiliar or strange way, in order to enhance perception of the familiar."
Another fascinating russian word with no direct english counterpart, like razbliuto.
Dec 16, 2006
marco_nj commented on the list scripted-apathy
Every once in a while you can throw in a "get out" for good measure.
I think there's a Chris Rock joke about scripted apathy...
Dec 16, 2006
marco_nj commented on the list stuffie-heave-ho
rank, earlobe, heist, rickshaw, file, shoelace, trigger, millstone, all nighter, leash, muscle
Dec 16, 2006
marco_nj commented on the list words-you-will-soon-learn-after-watching-the-hit-medical-drama-house-md
Haha. Note how "lupus" was the very first entry..
Dec 15, 2006
marco_nj commented on the list stuffie-heave-ho
prank
taffy
Dec 15, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word balderdash
For me, with flapping cheeks while quickly shaking your head from side to side.
Dec 6, 2006
marco_nj commented on the list contents-of-my-pockets
I kind of cheated. Nail clipper and bottle opener are both on keychain. Stamps are inside daily planner. Pistachios and post-its are usually in shirt pocket (10% and 95% likelihood respectively).
Dec 4, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word tuppers
Tuppers : Food :: Polyphasic Sleep : Sleep
Dec 4, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word triplet
Merriam-Webster says "triplet" has two syllables. However, drumming students are frequently taught to vocalise "trip-puh-lit" when learning to play this rhythm of three notes evenly spaced in one count.
Dec 4, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word crush
Amazing how it can mean to be infatuated with and adored, and at the same time, to pulverize.
Dec 4, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word razbliuto
"razbliuto (Russian): the feeling a person has for someone he or she once loved but now does not."
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the list swashbuckling-vocab
Oh, excellent. Never heard of those terms myself, but I'll take your word(s) for it. (hah)
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the list swashbuckling-vocab
Most of these stolen from Cap'n Eli's Online School of Swashbuckling.
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word skiddleebop
As in, "skiddleebop sweeeeeeeeee"
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word portmanteau
smoke + fog = smog
hobo + robot = hobot
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word grout
Least favorite word. Grout.
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word insouciant
Also a favorite of Margaret Atwood
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word indubitably
A classic
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word abattoir
The ox was slaughtered in the abattoir.
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word chocolate
The more you look at this word the more it looks like a chemical compound, no?
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word bulbous
Goes great with "bouffant"
Dec 3, 2006
marco_nj commented on the word bouffant
Goes great with "bulbous"
Dec 3, 2006