‘Pettin’ the zebra’ is a metaphor for being stuffed and mounted, and, more specifically, dead; it was coined by my brothers. They were discussing how unwise it would be to ever attempt to burglarize the house of one of our relatives (the relative in question is a hunter and a taxidermist). While he has a […]
MadMania
Faith, Books, and Stuff
Category: words
Pronounced SHIB-ol-eth. A shibboleth is a word, phrase, or mannerism that a group of people uses as a test to see if other people are members of that group. It might also be a joke. For example: There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those that understand binary code, and those that don’t. […]
German word, pronounced “SHAHD-n-FROID-uh.” The literal translation is “shameful laughing,” and it means laughing at the misfortunes of others, kind of like I do in that story about Timmy’s cough.
No, it has nothing to do with smokin’ the reefer; the guest of honor at a hemp party is someone about to be hanged. And yes, the past tense for execution by hanging is hanged, not hung (hung is used for other forms of hang, like hanging your coat up or hanging out).
slang for ‘breakfast.’
The two Bon Jovi songs “I’ll Be There For You” and “Thank You For Loving Me” both have five-word titles, and both lyrics contain the phrase “these five words.”
Several years ago Jimmy, Timmy, and I were discussing profanity. Jimmy, who almost never uses profanity, mentioned this: “I don’t like to swear; however, I really like the word ‘#$@*!‘ It just sounds cool.” Later in the day while we were getting ready to leave for lunch, Jimmy was taking a long time and we […]
Most people are familiar with the Biblical story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego It’s funny that some people in the Bible are referred to by their Hebrew names, and others by their Greek or Babylonian names. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are the false-god-honoring Babylonian names given to three Jewish captives: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, respectively. Meanwhile, […]
So I’m working and I hear this guy use the word ‘afterneath,’ as in “there is some stuff afterneath this other stuff.” I’ve never heard that word beforeneath now.
There is an infrequently used word that describes someone who is stingy or miserly. You logophiles out there probably know the word I am talking about. For the rest of you, here it is: niggard If this word is new to you, it has no racial connotations. After the definition, the New Oxford American Dictionary […]