Tag: slang

  • Why is Cool Still Cool?

    Why is Cool Still Cool?

    Cool has a culturally loaded history.

  • Slang in a Second Language

    Proceed with caution.

  • On Being a Hot Mess

    A Canadian friend of mine (waving hello to Sim) was telling me of his various health issues, and I replied, “You’re a hot mess!” Every once in a while my Southern comes out of my mouth. I can’t help it. He had never heard the phrase before, and had to look it up. (Which charmed…

  • Our Evolving Language

    Unless you’re an editor, you probably don’t think of our language as a living, breathing organism, but it really is. Words come and go. They fall out of fashion. Slang based on cultural references will make absolutely no sense to anyone 50 years from now. And the rules change over time. People who believe you…