hurrah, hurray, hooray – Hurrah, hurray, and hooray are alterations of huzza, a sailor’s cheer. More…
jumper – First a loose jacket worn by sailors, from jump, “a short coat.” More…
put through the hoop – An ancient marine phrase for a punishment for sailors involving an iron hoop. More…
smart money – A phrase meaning money bet by those in the know, originating in 1926; earlier than that, it meant “money paid to sailors, soldiers, workers, etc., who have been disabled while on the job.” More…
Double Tenth Day is a national holiday in Taiwan to commemorate the Chinese Revolution of October 10, 1911. The revolt marked the end of the Ching, or Qing, Dynasty that had been established in 1644 by the Manchus, and it led to the founding of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912. For several weeks before Double Tenth Day, the plaza in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei is illuminated. Celebrations include massive parades and rallies, displays of martial arts, folk dancing, and other cultural activities. Discuss
A person who looks out for the welfare of others, especially to a fussy, intrusive, or overprotective degree. Watch the video
Arm wrestling is not just a way to settle an argument—it is also a competitive sport. In official contests, two opponents sit facing each other, with hands interlocked and elbows firmly planted on a table surface, and attempt to force the other’s arm down. Strength alone does not make for a successful arm wrestler. The significant twisting force arm wrestling puts on the humerus bone of the upper arm can be quite dangerous, so good technique is also vital. How do arm wrestlers avoid broken arms? Discuss
boulevard – From French, literally “rampart” or a “promenade on the site of a rampart.” More…
bulwark – Comes from German bole, “plank,” and werc, “work,” and originally meant “rampart made out of planks or tree trunks.” More…
rampart – From Latin re-, “again,” and emparer, “fortify,” from the earlier ante-, “before,” and parare, “prepare.” More…
Someone who is more active and alert in the early hours of the morning than later in the day; an early riser. Watch the video
Though it may seem limited to science fiction, space warfare was a real concern in the 1960s as space was becoming more accessible to humans during the height of the Cold War. While the Soviet and American space programs were competing to launch satellites and make lunar landings, they were also pursuing other projects—Almaz and Blue Gemini, respectively—to prepare for battle beyond the atmospheric confines of Earth. What weapon did the Soviet Union reportedly test fire in space? Discuss
Definition: (noun) An immoderate, fanatical, or extremely zealous adherent to a cause, especially a religious one.
Synonyms: drumbeater, partisan.
Usage: Jane, who had dabbled in vegetarianism during high school, became an environmental zealot while in college.
Discuss
gurney – A stretcher with wheels. More…
axel, axle – Axel is the figure-skating jump; axle is the pin or rod between two wheels. More…
dry steering – The act of turning the wheels of a car that is not moving. More…
three-point landing – An aircraft landing in which the two wheels of the main landing gear and the tail or nose wheel touch the ground simultaneously. More…