How to talk the language of the Tour de France
I love the Tour de France. It combines beautiful landscapes with thrilling sports action. There is colour, drama, controversy, charismatic sportsmen, crashes, tactics, speed and endurance. The first Tour de France was held in 1903 and the development of the race defined endurance cycling. The gruelling rides over the mountain passes had never been contemplated […]
The ancient origin of the sheriff’s posse
My generation learned about good versus evil by watching recycled American TV westerns. Shows like The Lone Ranger, The Rifleman, Bonanza, and my favourite, the Cisco Kid, portrayed the good guys triumphing over lawlessness in the Old Wild Western Frontier. The bad guys (wearing black hats), after shooting up the saloon, were pursued out of Tombstone, […]
The sound of mucus
We all find it a bit difficult talking about the gunk we excrete when we are not well. When I went to see the doctor recently I prepared carefully to explain my symptoms. Our excellent, Old English word, snot, meaning the mucus from our nose is not a word you use to a highly trained […]
To boldly split the infinitive
Most of us were taught grammar in a very basic way—we can recognise nouns, verbs, adjectives and how to put them together in sentences. But we were forever in fear of splitting our infinitives even though most of us didn’t even know what it meant, let alone when we were doing it. Even now, when […]
Dark woke—is it here in Australia?
“Dark woke” is a new term used to describe an aggressive, meme-literate form of progressive activism. It has been coined to suggest political campaigning from the left has adopted a new, more combative style. In the US, dark woke reflects a shift from civility to confrontation—progressive politics attacking the right with sarcasm, irony, and unapologetic […]
Contumacious behaviour
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has just accused the Trump administration of “deliberately and gleefully” violating his order and showing “contumacious behaviour”. Boasberg had issued a ruling on the US government’s lack of compliance with his orders to cease deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. He is requiring the administration […]
Tariff, tariff, tariff the most beautiful word in the dictionary
![Old image of a merchant handing money to a monarch with the caption: “To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff, and it’s my favorite [sic] word.”](https://wordoftheweek.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/250403_word_tariff.jpg)
“Tariff” is the word of the moment. All we are hearing at the moment is “tarff, tariff, tariff” after Trump has announced he is imposing tariffs on friends and foe alike—China, Canada, Mexico, the European Union and, of course, Australia. And it is not new for the rest of the world to think that “with […]
Fairy smut and romantasies
While I was in England I was introduced to “fairy smut” by our niece (she is in her thirties by the way). Sometimes the world surprises you in ways that make you smile. Acotar—A Court of Thorns and Roses Invited to lunch, we asked Cate about her book collection. Rather sheepishly she told us most […]
An English pilgrim
The cathedral at Worcester My wife and I are in England to catch up with some family and are staying in Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. We went to the nearby city of Worcester for a half day trip. A nice lunch and a visit to the cathedral were the agenda. I always feel like a pilgrim […]
William Safire and his rules for writers
William Safire (1929–2009) was an American political speechwriter, journalist, political columnist, and language expert who transformed his reputation from a fiercely partisan commentator of the right into a widely respected “man of letters”. Nixon’s speechwriter Safire began his career in public relations before becoming a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew. […]
Grim reaport on murder of Sam Abdulrahim
John Silvester’s The Age column week was written in the aftermath of the Sulieman Abdulrahim gangland killing. His report “Dead man walking: Why ‘The Punisher’ refused to go into hiding” was published in The Age 29 January 2025 (paywalled). It had a punchline I liked. John Silvester is Australia’s leading crime journalist and the co-author […]
Vex and vexation
In 2025 we celebrate the 250 anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. Today (24 January 2025) I do want to talk about something more uplifting than the inauguration of Donald Trump, a man not lacking in pride or prejudice (… it is a truth universally acknowledged, that talentless men in possession of large fortunes, will more […]