Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006

I've always been quite fond of "defenestration". In my younger days, I would
send cards to special friends on May 23, the anniversary of the
Defenestration of Prague in 1618.

"Scum" is another favorite. It looks like a short word but it reverberates
subsonicly for quite a while after being spoken: scum-mmm-mmm-mmm.... "Scum
on the dog!" is a curse I use when slightly vexed.

Just one more: "Lozenge" has a nice ring to it. I named my river kayak
"Half-wet Lozenge".

Paul

Of both banana and Mississippi, chidren have been quoted as saying "I
know how to spell it, I just don't know when to stop."

Good choice.

Oh, ignorance!  When told by  President Nixon that the word
"recession" could not be used during testimoney before
Congress,  his economic advisor (Kahn, as I remember)
simply substituted the word "banana".  He testified that there
was one word he was ordered not to say, so he would use
"banana" instead.  "If the administration continues its present
economic policies, there will be a major banana."  Etc.

So, banana is the ultimate substitute word.  

GFH

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