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Channel: The Word Detective » August 2014
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Clutch one’s pearls

Oh, my stars and garters! Film at 11. Dear Word Detective:  The phrase “clutching her pearls” seems to describe a situation in which the clutcher, invariably female, is shocked or horrified by some...

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Bar

Surf’s up. Dear Word Detective: Yet another of my friends graduated from law school a few months ago and is now studying for the bar exam, which gives me plenty of opportunities to make bad jokes about...

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Fits and starts

It’s a bad sign that this immediately reminds me of our car, henceforth to be known as “Lurch.” Dear Word Detective: I was surprised to come up empty on the the Word Detective site in a search for...

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Left to one’s own devices

Alone time, with beeps. Dear Word Detective: I am curious about the phrase “left to his own devices,” which is often used to mean “left free to entertain himself.” It has the feel of a phrase which...

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Holy Mackerel

It’s probably conspiring with the Bart Simpson Chia Pet. Dear Word Detective: Where did the term “Holy mackerel” come from? — John. That’s a darn good question, but am I the only one around here who...

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Robbing Peter to pay Paul

I would gladly pay you Tuesday. Dear Word Detective:  Having been at the periphery of the business world for over 30 years, I’m well-acquainted with the technique of funding one project at the expense...

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Pound sand

I hate sand and writing this column gave me the creeps. Beaches nauseate me. There, I’ve said it. If you need me I’ll be in the library. Dear Word Detective:  Though it’s not the kindest of sayings, I...

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Intimate / Intimidate

 Separated before birth. Dear Word Detective:  I heard recently that the words “intimidate” and “intimacy” share a common root meaning. This makes a sort of twisted sense as so many people are timid...

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Robot

Gort retired to Tampa and married a Roomba. Dear Word Detective: I recently went to your website for the first time and found it to be awesome. But I could not believe I was looking for a word that you...

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To “take”

I’ll take Confounding Words for $100, Alex. Dear Word Detective: Can you enlighten me as to the origin of the phrase “it didn’t take?”  What exactly did it not take? The cake? The bait? The day off? —...

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Well-to-do

I wanna vote for someone who knows the percentage a Coinstar machine takes. Or even what it is. Dear Word Detective:  During a conversation with my wife the other day, she mentioned that someone was...

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August 2014

Semper Ubi Sub Ubi readme: Well, there you go. Sic transit gloria Aestatis. As Groucho Marx is said to have said, “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” Speaking of which, what the hell...

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