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July 2013 9 Jul 2013 | 04:08 am
Semper Ubi Sub Ubi readme: Wow. July, eh? Well, the good news is that we finally got the 50-foot tree off our front lawn, where it landed after the second derecho last year. We had several people ag...
Have gun, will travel 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
Have servants, will simper? Dear Word Detective: In the first episode of Season 3 of Downton Abbey, Cora says, “I’m one of those resilient Americans … ‘Have Gun Will Travel.’” Since this is set in t...
Until the pips squeak 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
Don’t frack me, bro. Dear Word Detective: With Europe’s austerity measures constantly in the news, I’ve recently encountered the phrase “to squeeze someone or something until the pips squeak.” Is thi...
Peter out 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
Lived a miner, forty-niner, and his sidekick, Peter Pan. Dear Word Detective: I have tried to research the origin of the phrase “peter out” — specifically, who was or what is “peter”? — but my source...
Desperate / Disparate 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
Let’s call the whole thing off. Dear Word Detective: My husband and I were wondering about the words “desperate” and “disparate.” In the dictionary, “desperate” comes from the Latin “desperare” meani...
Gee willikers 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
Grid willing, of course. Dear Word Detective: I recently ran across, though not with my car, your explanation of “criminy,” a word I’ve used since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Not being into the...
Lodge (a complaint) 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
Your call is important to us. Goodbye. Dear Word Detective: Oh Sherlock of Syllables, can you sleuth out for me exactly why we “lodge” a complaint or an appeal, instead of “filing” one? Does it have ...
Pin money 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
Something found on internet actually true, film at 11. Dear Word Detective: Recently I read an explanation of the origin of the term “pin money” on a Facebook page. Included in the explanation was a...
Range (stove) 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
I’ll stick with my Hasbro EZ Bake, thanks. Dear Word Detective: Most of the senses of “range” have to do with either physical distance or area (e.g., the range of an aircraft, firing range, mountain ...
Gravy 9 Jul 2013 | 04:02 am
There will be potatoes. Dear Word Detective: A friend of mine apologized to me recently, and I replied, “It’s all gravy,” signifying that there was no harm done. Now I’ll be the first to admit that g...
