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: Christopher tm Herdt (cherdt) wrote,
2004-01-23 12:44:00

Christopher tm Herdt
cherdt
2004-01-23 12:44:00

diligent coiners of neologisms

Cartoonist Thomas Aloysius Dorgan, one of the "most fecund makers of American slang," gave the following terms and phrases to the English language:

Dumbbell - a stupid person

For crying out loud - exclamation of astonishment

The cat's meow (and the cat's pajamas) - superlatives

Drugstore cowboy - a loafer or ladies' man

Hot dog - a sausage served in a bun

There are many others, some of which I was previously unaware of (ever call a stingy person a nickel-nurser?).

He also penned the phrase "Yes, we have no bananas."

(Source: Cigars and the Comics, Neil A. Grauer, publ. 1995 in Cigar Aficionado)

Tags: slang, words

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diligent coiners of neologisms

Bike repair: replacing chainrings

Reading List for English 317: Quest for Utopia

S24O - Sub 24-hour Overnighter

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