I like it too. Nice one George.

Bravo, Philip. Most enlightening and also entertaining.

Thanks Slava again. Yes, I saw at the time that the Good Doctor had picked up and run with my suggestion.

Slava's words remind me of the hippy who went into a cafe and asked for "A cup of coffee and a piece of way out cake, man." "I'm sorry sir, the cake's all gone." "Crazy, man. I'll have two pieces." A bit old, that one, but sometimes the old ones become relevant again, particularly in nostalgic remin...

Sounds a little far-fetched to me, Slava. I am not convinced!

What is Yankee that makes it so pejorative? I thought it was any United States citizen these days but particularly a Northerner, or at any rate, not a Confederate. Is there a continuing North-South rivalry (jealousy?)

I did actually see this and it was in response to my musings here! Thanks anyway. Good to see someone is paying attention.

This one was commonly used by my Mother and I think many others in UK in the 50s and 60s. I wonder if it is ever heard in USA? Meaning beneath one's dignity, I gather it comes straight from the Latin and is an abbreviation of infra dignitatem. It's a bit infra dig to be known to enjoy low-brow liter...

Well spotted Slava, once again. I searched the forum for the word, but must have searched only in 'Suggestions' rather than in 'Discussion'. So sorry, but thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Wait a minute. I have now searched in the Discussion section and the same "Suggestion" comments ca...

This quotation from T.S.Eliot's book of practical cats talks about the area window: Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer were a very notorious couple of cats. As knockabout clowns, quick-change comedians, tight-rope walkers and acrobats They had extensive reputation. They made t...

Thanks Slava for this (hardly timely) addition to the debate. It is useful, nonetheless.

I note that this word was suggested in 2010 but the suggestion has not been taken up. Maybe it isn't worthy, but I think it interesting because it appears to have no relation to French parler, to talk. I wonder though if Parliament has that connection? But I have already distracted myself! Whilst pa...

Yes we do like saying its name. Titicaca. Not just because it is vaguely salacious. It just sounds good. Which was the great poet that wrote "Chimborazo, Cotopaxi took me by the hand"? I think it was not because they are magnificent mountains that he was so enraptured, but because there is a magic i...

Well sort of Slava. Your example is a sort of vertical boustrophedonic layering. I recently attended a meeting at which I sat in the second seat along in the second row. A registration list was circulated to record attendance. The process started at the other end of the front row. Everyone duly pass...

Most interesting, Slava. Interesting enough for me to explore a little further! Spatula, from the Latin for a broadsword. Seems that it includes any blade used for stirring including bladed paint stirrers. So really it technically doesn't include your egg flipper or lifter - except perhaps when they...