Richard Lederer is a verbivore: “Carnivores eat meat; herbivores eat plants and vegetables; verbivores devour words.” In fact, Dr. Lederer is the author of more than 40 books about language, history, and humor, including his best-selling Anguished English. His observations on language appear in magazines throughout the United States, and “Lederer on Language” appears each Saturday in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Dr. Lederer recently posted on his blog:
“About a month ago in this space, I illuminated old expressions that have become obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology. These phrases included “don’t touch that dial,” “carbon copy,” “you sound like a broken record,” and “hung out to dry.” A bevy of readers have asked me to shine light on more faded words and expressions, and I am happy to oblige.
“Back in the olden days we had a lot of moxie. We’d put on our best bib and tucker and straighten up and fly right. Hubba-hubba! We’d cut a rug in some juke joint and then go necking and petting and smooching and spooning and billing and cooing and pitching woo in hot rods and jalopies in some passion pit or lovers’ lane. Heavens to Betsy! Gee whillikers! Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! Holy moley! We were in like Flynn and living the life of Riley, and even a regular guy couldn’t accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill. Not for all the tea in China!”
Read the rest of his entertaining post here. [Hat tip to Marian Friedlob for the post.]
