Editor's Corner

I know, I’m a day early, but I wanted to provide you with these ghastly words before you started trick-or-treating!

Here is a list of spooky words for you from Grammarly.com. If you’re interested in the words as they appear in haunting literature, see the Grammarly website.

· Ghastly

The adjective “ghastly” evokes a horrifying or terrifying sentiment about the noun it’s describing. It’s reminiscent of the word “ghost” as if the subject is taking on a death-like pallor.

· Ghoulish

The word “ghoulish” describes grotesque or perverse characteristics that are frightening to the beholder. It’s also a form of “ghoul,” a word derived from Arabic that means demonic being.

· Macabre

Nothing screams Halloween like the word “macabre,” which was derived from an Old French phrase that alludes to the “dance of death.” Today, macabre acutely describes death in a grisly and gory fashion.

· Phantasm

“Phantasm” conjures a haunting image of an unnatural apparition. Emerging from the supernatural, a phantasm might be seen so faintly, so momentarily, that its beholder questions the reality of the surrounding world.

· Spine-tingling

Alluding to the human anatomy in your writing conjures sensations of fear. The adjective “spine-tingling” can refer to a chilling, heart-thumping type of fright, but can also describe thrilling suspense about an unknown situation.

· Blood-curdling

The word “blood-curdling” arouses terror and fear from the senses. It comes from the medieval idea that an excessive amount of fear can turn the blood cold and therefore curdle it.

· Creaky

Descriptive words for sounds add layers to an already spooky writing project. “Creaky” objects, like wooden floorboards in disrepair or a rusty swing, almost cry out in warning to the reader.

· Howl

The word “howl” evokes a melancholy, pained cry. It’s made by an animal, but attributing a howl to a subject that’s not an animal sets an especially eerie mood.

· Shadowy

Describing a noun as “shadowy” makes it mysterious, dark, and difficult to see. And when it’s hard to discern nearby spooky figures, your imagination races to the creepiest possibilities.

· Lurking

When a subject is “lurking,” it suggests someone who poses a sinister threat and is purposefully biding their time for an opportune moment to attack.

· Crypt

Lead your readers underground with images of a “crypt”—a vault that’s used as a burial area, commonly underneath a church. Crypts elicit an unsettling and foreboding mood that’s perfect for a frightening tale.

· Cackle

The word “cackle” is often described as a witch’s laugh. The sound is harsh, shrill, and menacing. It can be used to evoke a sense of scorn or unpleasantness that’s to come.

· Disquieting

This adjective is used to refer to something that makes someone feel anxious or uneasy. The combination of the prefix “dis-” and the root word “quiet” in and of itself implies the opposite of calm; the word is used in the context of a disturbing or fearful situation, ratcheting up a sense of dread.

Happy Halloween!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

I’ve been thinking about Halloween a lot lately. My husband just bought what feels like a 10-pound package of candy corns and candy pumpkins, we watched a show on the three most controversial candies in America (the most loved and simultaneously most hated top three: black licorice, circus peanuts, and candy corn), and of course the neighborhood is decorated with giant skeletons and spiders.

Outside of this, I’ve also been thinking about death, dying, and El Dia de Los Muertos. Why? Well, my YMCA has a great display and history of Dia de Los Muertos, which I love and plan to celebrate. Looking at both holidays, I found some interesting information I’d like to share, but first a definition. I kept reading about “All Hallows Eve” and “All Hallows Day,” and thought, “What the heck is a hallow?” From Merriam-Webster:

hallow (verb)

1: to make holy : set apart for holy or religious use : treat or keep as sacred : consecrate

2: to respect greatly : venerate, revere

hallow (noun, archaic)

1: a saint or holy person.

Okay, now for a little more history on Halloween and the hallowed hallows, from the New York Public Library blog:

All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween as it is commonly referred, is a global celebration on October 31. It developed from the ancient Celtic ritual of Samhain [KC – Pronounced
saa-wn.], which was, in the simplest terms, a festival celebrating the changing of the seasons from light to dark (summer to winter). This would usually take place around November 1.

Traditionally, a bonfire would be lit, sweets would be prepared, and costumes would be worn to ward off evil spirits as the ancient Celts believed that, at this time of year, the veil separating the worlds of the living and the dead was at its thinnest.

Early Christian officials tried to impose their own holiday to stop their converts from practicing non-Christian festivals. Pope Gregory III deemed November 1, All Saints’ Day, a celebration of Christian martyrs and saints, and November 2 became All Souls Day, a day for remembering the souls of the dead. All Saints’ Day later became known as All Hallows’ Day, and the previous day, October 31, became known as All Hallows’ Eve, then later, Halloween.

Despite the best efforts of the church, people still continued to celebrate Halloween with traditional bonfires, costumes, treats, and a focus on spirits of the dead.

Moving on to Dia de Los Muertos, we have this from Wikipedia.

The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality. It largely originated in Mexico, where it is mostly observed, but also in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage elsewhere.

Although associated with the Western Christian observances [KC – Mentioned in the previous article] it has a much less solemn tone and is portrayed as a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed. [KC – And this is why I find it so delightful and therapeutic. It is a great tradition to emulate and celebrate!]

Traditions connected with the holiday include honoring the deceased using calaveras and aztec marigold flowers, known as cempazúchitl, building home altars called ofrendas with the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts for the deceased. The celebration is not solely focused on the dead, as it is also common to give gifts to friends such as candy sugar skulls, to share traditional pan de muerto with family and friends, and to write light-hearted and often irreverent verses in the form of mock epitaphs dedicated to living friends and acquaintances, a literary form known as calaveras literarias.

I left the links in the Wikipedia article (above) so you can check out some of the calaveras and interesting things associated with the day.

I’m going to combine both Halloween and Dia de los Muertos and celebrate my dearly departed Harvey, who was the Lion King of Halloweens Past. I’ll make sure to tell grand stories of his shenanigans and have some of his favorite (street) foods on hand: half-eaten pizza, a bag of chicken tenders, and whatever else the neighborhood kids throw over their balcony.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Our dear coworker Jane G. sent me a list of words I’d never heard before, and after guessing what they might mean, I looked up what they do mean. I’m going to be nice and provide you with the words and their definitions.

• lalochezia (noun)

Emotional relief gained by using indecent or vulgar language. [KC – I hate to say this, but occasionally this is better than visiting a therapist!]

• snollygoster (noun, slang)

A clever, unscrupulous person. [KC – Sounds right out of a Dickens novel.]

• ultracrepidarian (adjective)

Noting or pertaining to a person who criticizes, judges, or gives advice outside the area of their expertise. [KC – The example the dictionary was not kind to mothers-in-law, so I’m just going keep quiet on this one.]

• scripturient (adjective)

Having a strong urge to write. [KC – Hmm. Can’t relate.]

• muliebrity (noun)

Womanly qualities; womanhood. [KC – I saw this and read it as “mulberry.”]

• thalassophile (noun)

Someone who loves the sea. [KC – I’m
definitely a thalassophile, especially when visiting the word’s home country, Greece!]

• librocubicularist (noun)

A person who reads in bed. [KC – What
a wonderful word! Thank you for this collection, Jane!]

Now, as a bonus, I also have a German word from Jane. This goes under the category of “German words we should have in English.” If you’re feeling a little feisty with your insults, the word is Backpfeifengesicht. Here is the definition from the German Embassy Blog (in Washington, DC.):

Do you ever look at someone and feel like punching them in the face? Well, Germans have a unique word for that face: a Backpfeifengesicht — a face that’s badly in need of a fist.

This is one of those strange words that’s uniquely German with no English equivalent. The word Backpfeife means “punch/slap” (on the cheek/face) and Gesicht means “face”. The word Backpfeifengesicht therefore means something along the lines of “a face that’s begging to be slapped” – or punched. Or hurt. You get the picture.

Here’s hoping that none of you have a Backpfeifengesicht! (And no, I have no idea how to pronounce it!)

kara church | technical editor, advisory | technical publications

pronouns: she/her | call via teams | jackhenry.com

Editing Requests

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

Hello, friends.

Not long ago, I wrote about new words that were recently added to the dictionary. Many of the entries were actually composed of two words (gift economy, side hustle, video doorbell), and Nathan A. asked an interesting question: Is it common for dictionaries to have entries that contain two words?

My write up was about new words not new phrases, right? Yes!

Nathan makes a great point, and it would have been prudent of me to mention in that original article that many of the words being added are what we call compound words.

Compound words come in three varieties: open, hyphenated, and closed. The words Nathan asked about are known as open compound words.

Often, there’s a progression from open to closed, but compound words don’t always end up as closed compounds. And just to add a little confusion, many hyphenated compound words are hyphenated when they precede a noun (because adjectives that precede nouns are typically hyphenated), but they are open when they follow a noun. Here are a couple of sentences to show you what I mean:

• They offered a long-term solution.
• The solution they offered was for the long term.

The following table provides just a few examples of all three types of compound words:

Thanks for the question, Nathan!

Kara and I really appreciate the feedback we get from all of you. The questions you ask and the comments you send make writing the Editor’s Corner articles so fun for both of us. Thanks for letting us be part of your day.

Donna Bradley Burcher |Technical Editor, Advisory | jack henry™

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

Pronouns she/her/hers

Symitar Documentation Services

About Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.

Did someone forward this email to you? Click here to subscribe.

Don’t want to get Editor’s Corner anymore? Click here to unsubscribe.

Do you have a question or an idea for Editor’s Corner? Send your suggestions or feedback to Kara and <a href="mailto:DBurcher.

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

From: Kara Church <KChurch@jackhenry.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2022 6:29 AM
To: Kara Church <KChurch@jackhenry.com>
Subject: Editor’s Corner: A barrel of monkeys

Dear Editrix,

Barrels. It’s a fun word to say. But as far as I know, they don’t have an engine and tend not to move—so why, when someone or something is coming toward us quickly, do we say, “They were barreling toward us?” Also, was it a common practice to keep monkeys in barrels? Why do we compare a lot of fun (or chaos) to a “barrel full of monkeys?” I can envision how wacky that would be, but I wonder why barrels, and not a cage or a box?

Sincerely,

A Monkey’s Uncle

Dear Uncle,

Wow! So many questions, so little time! I found quite a few details on these different idioms, so I will define them, give you some additional information on them, and answer your questions.

First, let’s look at “I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.” This phrase is used to express surprise or disbelief in something. (“Bachelor Pete finally got married? Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle!) The history of the phrase is assumed to be a reference to Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859), in which he wrote about evolution and similarities of humans and primates.

Second, what is the deal with the verb “barreling.” What a good question! How did a barrel (or barreling) come to mean “move rapidly, especially in a vehicle”? This use of the word goes back to the 1930s, but its history is much older. Way back in the 1400s, the verb “barrel” meant—get this—to put something in a barrel. From The Word Detective:

…the use of empty barrels for fun and recreation has a history as old as barrels themselves. As a protective container, barrels have long been the vehicle of choice for daredevils convinced that taking a dangerous plunge over a waterfall is a good idea (it usually isn’t). But even bored farm boys have been known, for several centuries, to liven things up by rolling down hills in a barrel. This foolhardy stunt (rolling barrels are nearly impossible to steer or stop) is almost certainly the source of “barrelling,” meaning “moving very rapidly,” especially since “barrelling” carries overtones of recklessness and “unstoppability.”

Lastly, I will address your “barrel of monkeys.” There are several idiomatic phrases you might hear:

• More fun than a barrel of monkeys
• As much fun as a barrel of monkeys
• As funny as a barrel of monkeys

The definition of the term according to Merriam-Webster is “funny and enjoyable.” However, according to one source I read, there’s more to it, and the meaning has changed over time. Monkey’s Uncle, I think you’ll appreciate this since the author’s answer reminded me so much of your email. From Portable Press:

Answering the question: “Where does the phrase ‘As fun as a barrel full of monkeys’ come from?”

Answering this question only brings up more questions. Why did someone have a barrel, and decide to fill it up with monkeys in the first place? And why is that a fun thing? It seems like it would be a nightmarish disaster of monkeys clawing at each other, and throwing their waste at each other, all the while screeching and howling. This doesn’t sound all that fun, let alone the barometer against which all other fun things are judged.

(And for what it’s worth, we’ve never found the children’s game it inspired, “Barrel of Monkeys,” to be all that much fun.)

But fortunately, there is an explanation. “More fun than a barrel of monkeys” is supposed to be an ironic statement, or at least a sarcastic one. It’s properly used to wryly describe something that isn’t fun (say, the board game “Barrel of Monkeys.”) The previous incarnations of the phrase lend credence to that. It was first recorded in 1840 as “cage of monkeys.” By the 1890s, the term had evolved into “a wagon-load of monkeys,” which would aptly describe something both chaotic and terrible.

And one more note. “A barrel of laughs” is supposed to have evolved from “a barrel of monkeys.”

Have a good day in the jungle!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Dear Editrix,

Barrels. It’s a fun word to say. But as far as I know, they don’t have an engine and tend not to move—so why, when someone or something is coming toward us quickly, do we say, “They were barreling toward us?” Also, was it a common practice to keep monkeys in barrels? Why do we compare a lot of fun (or chaos) to a “barrel full of monkeys?” I can envision how wacky that would be, but I wonder why barrels, and not a cage or a box?

Sincerely,

A Monkey’s Uncle

Dear Uncle,

Wow! So many questions, so little time! I found quite a few details on these different idioms, so I will define them, give you some additional information on them, and answer your questions.

First, let’s look at “I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.” This phrase is used to express surprise or disbelief in something. (“Bachelor Pete finally got married? Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle!) The history of the phrase is assumed to be a reference to Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species (1859), in which he wrote about evolution and similarities of humans and primates.

Second, what is the deal with the verb “barreling.” What a good question! How did a barrel (or barreling) come to mean “move rapidly, especially in a vehicle”? This use of the word goes back to the 1930s, but its history is much older. Way back in the 1400s, the verb “barrel” meant—get this—to put something in a barrel. From The Word Detective:

…the use of empty barrels for fun and recreation has a history as old as barrels themselves. As a protective container, barrels have long been the vehicle of choice for daredevils convinced that taking a dangerous plunge over a waterfall is a good idea (it usually isn’t). But even bored farm boys have been known, for several centuries, to liven things up by rolling down hills in a barrel. This foolhardy stunt (rolling barrels are nearly impossible to steer or stop) is almost certainly the source of “barrelling,” meaning “moving very rapidly,” especially since “barrelling” carries overtones of recklessness and “unstoppability.”

Lastly, I will address your “barrel of monkeys.” There are several idiomatic phrases you might hear:

• More fun than a barrel of monkeys
• As much fun as a barrel of monkeys
• As funny as a barrel of monkeys

The definition of the term according to Merriam-Webster is “funny and enjoyable.” However, according to one source I read, there’s more to it, and the meaning has changed over time. Monkey’s Uncle, I think you’ll appreciate this since the author’s answer reminded me so much of your email. From Portable Press:

Answering the question: “Where does the phrase ‘As fun as a barrel full of monkeys’ come from?”

Answering this question only brings up more questions. Why did someone have a barrel, and decide to fill it up with monkeys in the first place? And why is that a fun thing? It seems like it would be a nightmarish disaster of monkeys clawing at each other, and throwing their waste at each other, all the while screeching and howling. This doesn’t sound all that fun, let alone the barometer against which all other fun things are judged.

(And for what it’s worth, we’ve never found the children’s game it inspired, “Barrel of Monkeys,” to be all that much fun.)

But fortunately, there is an explanation. “More fun than a barrel of monkeys” is supposed to be an ironic statement, or at least a sarcastic one. It’s properly used to wryly describe something that isn’t fun (say, the board game “Barrel of Monkeys.”) The previous incarnations of the phrase lend credence to that. It was first recorded in 1840 as “cage of monkeys.” By the 1890s, the term had evolved into “a wagon-load of monkeys,” which would aptly describe something both chaotic and terrible.

And one more note. “A barrel of laughs” is supposed to have evolved from “a barrel of monkeys.”

Have a good day in the jungle!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Good morning, all.

Last week was really tough for me. My younger dog, Harvey, died of an aggressive cancer. I’m still choked up about it and I know it will be a long time before I am “back to normal.” He was a crazy, handsome dog, full of love, life, and feistiness.

I was sitting around wondering how I could honor him and come up with something English-related that I could share with you, since he’s on my mind all of the time. I just found something that provides exactly what I needed!

Every now and then, I share Richard Lederer’s columns with you, and he wrote one at the end of August called “All I really need to know, I learned from my dog.” Here is the majority of the column for your reading pleasure:

We give dogs what time we can spare, what space we can spare, what food we can spare, and what love we can spare. In return, dogs give us everything. It’s the best deal we human beings have ever made.

Part of that deal is that dogs teach us to live better lives:

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body. Enjoy the simple things in life, like taking a long walk or riding in a car and feeling the wind blowing on your face. Run barefoot, romp, and play daily. Leave yourself breathless at least once every day.

Master the art of stretching. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. If it’s not wet and sloppy, it’s not a real kiss. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. Take time to stop and eat the roses.

Trust your instincts. Don’t go out without ID. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree. Life is hard, and then you nap. Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory. Make your mark on the world.

Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you’re not. No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends. To err is human; to forgive canine.

If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains. If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles; If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it. If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you any time;

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment; If you can face the world without lies and deceit. If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills. If you can relax without liquor and sleep without the aid of drugs;

If you can find great happiness in the simplest things in life. If you can forgive any action in the blink of an eye. If you can repel intruders without using lethal weapons.

If you have no bias against creed, color, religion, politics, or gender. If you offer unconditional love as naturally as you breathe, then you are almost as good as your dog.

Here’s to Harvey, all the dogs we have loved in the past, and those we will love in the future.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Every now and then, I like to take a quiz to challenge my vocabulary. This week, Dictionary.com lured me in with a lovely photo of pumpkins, but my heart also twisted because the topic of the quiz was words related to the color orange.

I love the taste of oranges, I think pumpkin is fantastic—shoot, I wouldn’t even turn down a candy corn or one of his waxy candy pumpkin buddies—but the color orange is one of my least favorite. Is that why I answered only four of seven questions correctly? I don’t know, but I can certainly help you score better! I’ll provide the quiz at the end of the definitions. Here are several different shades of orange, their definitions, and some examples.

coral: pinkish red

Hesperidium: name of an order of plants containing citrus fruits, named after the golden apples of the Hesperides. (In Greek mythology, Hercules was tasked to steal the golden apples, which were a wedding gift from Hera to Zeus.)

marigold: a plant of the daisy family, typically with yellow, orange, or copper-brown flowers.

marmalade: a preserve made from citrus fruit, especially bitter oranges, prepared like jam.

peach: blend of orange, yellow, and white. [KC – I’m no painter, but I’d add red to the blend.]

tawny: orange-brown, yellowish-brown (below, the aptly named Tawny Owl)

titian: brownish orange, sometimes brownish red (auburn)

So, how do you feel? If you’re interested in testing your vocabulary and your color palette, take this quick quiz. Good luck!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Good morning word lovers. I recently read that Merriam-Webster has added new words to the dictionary (as they often do). Word additions always spark a lot of debate. Many people don’t like seeing what they perceive to be trendy or slang words added to the dictionary, but remember that dictionaries don’t tell us how to speak, they reflect how we actually do speak.

For a word to get added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it “must be used in a substantial number of citations that come from a wide range of publications over a considerable period of time. Specifically, the word must have enough citations to allow accurate judgments about its establishment, currency, and meaning.”

And while words are regularly being added, words are likewise being removed when they are no longer used or useful.

First, I want to share the banking words that were added (though they may not seem especially “new”):

• gift economy: a system in which goods and services are given freely between people rather than sold or bartered
• shrinkflation: the practice of reducing a product’s amount or volume per unit while continuing to offer it at the same price
• unbanked: not having money deposited in a bank
• underbanked: not using or having access to a full range of banking options
• altcoin: any of various cryptocurrencies that are regarded as alternatives to established cryptocurrencies and especially to Bitcoin
• side hustle: work performed for income supplementary to one’s primary job

And here are some newly added business and technology words:

• dumbphone: a cell phone that does not include advanced software features (such as email or an internet browser) typically found on smartphones
• video doorbell: a small security camera that is designed for use on an exterior door, that includes or connects to a doorbell, and that often has a microphone and speaker
• microgrid: a small grid, especially a local electrical that can be connected to a larger network but that is also capable of operating independently
• supply chain: the chain of processes, businesses, etc., by which a commodity is produced and distributed: the companies, materials, and systems involved in manufacturing and delivering goods
• greenwash(verb): to make something, such as a product, policy, or practice appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is
  (noun): something (such as a claim or action) that is intended to make a product, policy, activity, etc. appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is

And for fun, here are a few slang words that are now official:

• yeet(interjection): used to express surprise, approval, or excited enthusiasm
  yeet(verb): to throw especially with force and without regard for the thing being thrown
• janky: of very poor quality (junky); not functioning properly or adequately (faulty)
• sus: suspicious, suspect
• lewk: a fashion look that is distinctive to the wearer and that is noticeable and memorable to others
• adorkable: socially awkward or quirky in a way that is endearing
• baller: excellent, exciting, or extraordinary especially in a way that is suggestive of a lavish lifestyle

And finally, here are some words that were recently removed or have been marked archaic, historical,or obsolete:

• aerodrome: a location from which aircraft flight operations take off. This British term has since been replaced by “airport.”
• alienism: the study and treatment of mental illness. This term has been phased out due to its insensitivity and inaccuracy in reference to those with mental health issues.
• brabble: to argue stubbornly about trifles
• frigorific: causing cold, chilling. Today, we still use the word “frigid.”
• frutescent: having or approaching the appearance or habit of a shrub
• supererogation: the performance of more work than duty requires
• younker: a youngster

And with that, I wish you a good day!

Donna Bradley Burcher |Technical Editor, Advisory | jack henry™

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123

Pronouns she/her/hers

About Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.

Did someone forward this email to you? Click here to subscribe.

Don’t want to get Editor’s Corner anymore? Click here to unsubscribe.

Do you have a question or an idea for Editor’s Corner? Send your suggestions or feedback to Kara and <a href="mailto:DBurcher.

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed. The message,
together with any attachment, may contain confidential and/or privileged information.
Any unauthorized review, use, printing, saving, copying, disclosure or distribution
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please
immediately advise the sender by reply email and delete all copies.

Hey! You’re the next contestant on “What’s That Idiom?” I have three from the crowd out there today:

• How the tides have turned
• Mind out of the gutter
• The whole nine yards

How the tides have turned

An idiom that means that someone’s luck has changed completely. It could be a change in either direction—from good to bad, or vice versa.

Examples:

• Bob used to be the luckiest guy at the local casino, but oh, how the tides have turned! He now loses money on every game he plays, even for nickels.
• The tides had definitely turned for Mishka. She stared life in America as an orphaned immigrant, and thirty years later she’d grown her business to a $5 billion-dollar enterprise.

Get your mind out of the gutter

(slang) To stop having and giving voice to lewd, inappropriate thoughts

I couldn’t find a definitive reference, but some blogs say that this idiom has been around since the days where waste was disposed of in the filthy, dirty gutters. (Yay for underground plumbing!) That makes sense considering the people whose minds are “in the gutter,” are being accused of thinking filthy thoughts of a different biological nature—being naughty and Rated X.

The whole nine yards

Richard Sunbury taunted me with this phrase and told me it was sure to send me down a rabbit hole. Sure enough, he was correct. There are many suggestions about where it’s from, but nothing has been set in stone. Wikipedia summed up a lot of what I found in bits and pieces elsewhere. I’ve edited it for space.

"The whole nine yards" or "the full nine yards" is a colloquial American English phrase meaning "everything, the whole lot" or, when used as an adjective, "all the way."

The earliest known idiomatic use of the phrase is from 1907 in Southern Indiana. The phrase is related to the expression the whole six yards, used around the same time in Kentucky and South Carolina. Both phrases are variations on the whole ball of wax, first recorded in the 1880s. They are part of a family of expressions in which an odd-sounding item, such as enchilada, shooting match, shebang or hog, is substituted for ball of wax. The choice of the number nine may be related to the expression "To the nines" (to perfection).

There is still no consensus on the origin, though many early published quotations are now available for study. A vast number of explanations for this phrase have been suggested; however, many of these are no longer viable in light of what is now known about the phrase’s history.

· Many of the popular candidates relate to the length of pieces of fabric, or various garments, including Indian saris, Scottish kilts, burial shrouds, or bolts of cloth. No single source verifies that any one of those suggestions was the actual origin. However, an article published in Comments on Etymology demonstrates that fabric was routinely sold in standard lengths of nine yards (and other multiples of three yards) during the 1800s and early 1900s.

· One explanation is that World War II (1939–1945) aircraft machine gun belts were nine yards long. There are many versions of this explanation with variations regarding type of plane, nationality of gunner and geographic area. An alternative weapon is the ammunition belt for the British Vickers machine gun, invented and adopted by the British Army before World War I (1914–1918). The standard belt for this gun held 250 rounds of ammunition and was approximately twenty feet (6⅔ yards) in length. However, the Vickers gun as fitted to aircraft during the First World War usually had ammunition containers capable of accommodating linked belts of 350-400 rounds, the average length of such a belt being about nine yards, and it was thought that this may be the origin of the phrase. This theory is no longer considered viable, since the phrase predates World War I.

· Another common explanation is that "nine yards" is a cubic measure and refers to the volume of a concrete mixer. This theory, too, is inconsistent with the phrase’s history.

· Other proposed sources include the volume of graves; ritual disembowelment; shipyards; and American football. Little documentary evidence has surfaced to support any of these explanations.

There you have it! Three more idiomatic phrases with a little history and various theories of their origins, and I gave you the whole six yards!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/