The happy grammarian

Dan Verner
Published: August 2, 2008

OK, I realize that if you know anything about grammarians, you’re aware that a happy grammarian is an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp or rap music. (Add your own examples here.) Most grammarians are
on the curmudgeonly side as I wrote several weeks ago. It’s a big responsibility being accountable for civilization as we know it, so it’s no wonder many grammarians tend to be grouchy. However, I’d like
to be a happy grammarian for a moment and write about some phrases and usages that strike me as fortuitous and felicitous. And also good and useful.

Film at 11: This is an expression from my friend Jim in Fredericksburg who is both witty and insightful. He uses it when he has something to share but doesn’t have time to go into all the details. I like it
because it makes reference to a technology that is several iterations back (before digital and video recoding). Loyal readers will remember that I refuse to go digital.

It is what it is: Also from my friend in Fredericksburg, this sentence is not so much fatalistic as it is a realistic acceptance of the way a person or situation is. We’ll be talking about something that we
would like to see changed and Jim will say, “Well, it is what it is.” And so it is.

Just like New York: This expression from my friend Jay means something is exactly right or just what it should be. We’ve worked on several rehab projects for buildings and when we do something like fit
a piece of trim exactly, Jay will say “Just like New York.” Also may be said as “just like downtown.”

From your lips to God’s ear: Originally a Yiddish phrase, this means “You speak the truth” or “May it be so.” I don’t remember who I first heard this from, but it’s a kind and useful saying.

Google (verb): Ordinarily I don’t care for nouns masquerading as verbs, but this one I like, largely because it didn’t have a verbal equivalent. I suppose you could say, “I’ll conduct an internet search,” but
it’s faster and more fun to say “I’ll Google that.” It’s interesting how quickly this usage has developed and caught on.

Uncheck: Also from computerland, this word is used when something is checked on an internet page (like an offer to receive email or other news about a product) and you simply uncheck it. You can’t
uncheck something on a paper form (unless you recently used erasable ink to check it) but you can on an Internet page. I believe this is a new word, and I like it.

Press 1: Language lags behind technology, so sometimes there aren’t words for actions and ideas related to new technology. The little compartment in a car’s dash is still called a glove compartment by
many people, for example. Originally it was used to store driving gloves back in the day when drivers wore gloves, goggles and dusters. And that’s been what? A hundred years ago? When telephones
switched to push buttons several decades ago, people continued to talk about “dialing” a number even though there wasn’t a sign of a dial. “Press” seems to have taken the place of “dial” recently. It just
takes a while.

When the horse is dead, dismount: My wife Becky said this recently about someone who continued to persist at something long after they should have stopped. It’s a clever take on “beating a dead
horse,” and nicely to the point.

Epizootic: I first heard this word from my mother-in-law. It means a disease among animals. She applies it to humans: “They all had the epizootic.” It’s just funny, except when it happens at the National
Zoo.

Well, that’s my list for now.  I’ll be thinking of some other words and phrases that I like. Film at 11. And watch out for the epizootic.

Dan Verner is a Manassas resident. He contributes his thoughts and stories to the Perspective page on Sundays.