The Film Noir spoof began Oct. 18, 2011.
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"Lexie Kahn's" other identity is Judith B. Herman
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Tag Archives: etymology
Fruitful Expressions or Why There Are No Plums in Plum Pudding
From sweet lemons to sour grapes, the fleshy, edible, seed-bearing parts of plants are a fruitful source of terms and phrases. “Fruit Dreams” by Judith B. Herman Pick a juicy crop here.
Posted in English language, etymology, food, phrases
Tagged Big Apple, cherry-pick, etymology, lemon, pear-shaped, raspberry, razzberry
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Is This Trio of Words the Longest English Homonym?
These word pairs (and one trio) are identical, but not twins or triplets. Like the mythical doppelgangers, they were born at different times and places. Continue reading“Periwinkle 3” by Mokkie http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Periwinkle_3.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Periwinkle_3.jpg “Littorina littorea 02” by H. Zell – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Littorina_littorea_02.JPG#mediaviewer/File:Littorina_littorea_02.JPG Rosalba … Continue reading
Posted in English language, etymology, homonyms, homophones
Tagged doppelganger words, English language, etymology, homonyms, homophones, longest homonym
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Extra Lex: 14 Food and Beverage Words with Arabic Origins
An alcoholic’s first nip of the morning may be called an “eye opener,” but who would have thought that the word “alcohol” derived from a term related to eyeliner? Get the scoop here: http://shar.es/N9myH
Posted in English language, etymology
Tagged alcohol, apricot, Arabic language, artichoke, English language, etymology, orange, sherbet, word origins, words
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Spring Bounces In
I didn’t see her slip in — the tall, wavy-haired figure silhouetted in front of me. “Afternoon, Ms. Kahn,” she said. “And to you, Ms. Khan.” It was Amira Khan, the anonymous Boss Lady’s go-fer. Things were looking up. “Mrs. … Continue reading
A Novel That’s a Real Novelty
I was hunched in my windowless corner office nursing a double. I was dry as an unirrigated field in California’s 500-year drought. Maybe the last gully-washer knocked a few years off the rating, but I was in a dry state, … Continue reading
Are Partners People Who Part?
“Okay, we’ve got party figured out.” Pat drained the dregs from the plastic glass. What do part and parcel and partial have to do with partner?” “Yeah,” Chris said. “We vowed to stay together ‘until death we do part.’” Pat … Continue reading
Party Politics and Etymology
“Getting back to our wedding reception…” Pat started. “You guys had a party and we weren’t invited?” Lee fumed. Guys, I thought. Had Lee revealed something? No. “You guys” doesn’t indicate gender. “Of course not,” Chris said. “The party is … Continue reading
Should “Husband” Be Banned?
While I was getting us all another round of java, I tried to scope out the two couples for clues. No hairy hands. Just how big was Pat’s Adam’s apple? I turned to take the cardboard tray from the barista … Continue reading
Posted in English language, etymology, words
Tagged etymology, gays, husband, marriage, nice
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Extra Lex: Lonely Negatives in Mental Floss
We interrupt Lexie’s adventures for another Mental Flossing (which is entirely different from brainwashing). Disgruntled, disgusted and disheveled: Negative words that have lost their positive partners: Mental Floss
Posted in English language, etymology
Tagged English language, etymology, lonely negatives
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