beauty sleep – First defined as sleep taken before midnight, regarded as the most refreshing portion. More…
mesonoxian – Means “of or related to midnight.” More…
quarternight – Halfway between sundown and midnight. More…
small hours – Midnight or 1 a.m. to dawn, when the numbered hours are “small.” More…
Thousands of people are struck by lightning every year, but in 1954, Ann Hodges of Sylacauga, Alabama, became the first person in modern history to be hit by a meteorite. Hodges was napping on her couch when she was rudely awakened by a grapefruit-sized meteorite crashing through her roof, bouncing off her radio, and striking her on the hip. The incident left her badly bruised. Who prevailed in the dispute between Hodges and her landlord over ownership of the meteorite? Discuss
Battlefield surgery that is performed hastily so as to quickly stabilize a patient and prevent their imminent death. Popularized (and possibly coined) by H. Richard Hornberger in his semi-autobiographical novel M*A*S*H, which focused on doctors serving in a fictional mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War. Primarily heard in US. Watch the video
The phrases “thousand-yard stare” and “two-thousand-yard stare” were first used to describe the unfocused, dazed gaze of the battle-weary soldier. Because such a look is characteristic of posttraumatic stress disorder, it is not limited to combat veterans. The thousand-yard stare can be displayed by anyone coping with the stress of trauma by dissociating from it rather than consciously acknowledging it. During World War II, what artist captured the thousand-yard stare for Life magazine? Discuss
Sweet are the uses of adversity which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head. Discuss
As much as or to the point that one wants; to the point of contentment, satiety, or surfeit. Watch the video
In 1987, South Africa’s lucrative taxi industry—serving over 60 percent of commuters—was deregulated. Since then, it has been dominated by turf wars among rival associations of taxi operators that use mafia-like tactics, including hired killings. The wars intensified with the end of apartheid in 1994. In addition to the violence, the industry is also plagued by the inherent danger created by outdated vehicles and reckless drivers. How many taxi-related deaths occurred annually in the 1990s? Discuss
Definition: (verb) To be in accord; agree.
Synonyms: correspond, match.
Usage: I expected to find some discrepancies in the books, but your figures jibe with mine.
Discuss