According to my young adult children in 2009, the terms "can" or "can't hack it" --meaning being able to do something or not--are becoming obsolete. They didn't understand me, and thought immediately of computers. In the 70's and 80's, those were very common slang phrases.
A friend told me the word "bistro" comes from the Russian word for quick or fast. The implication is that the food at a bistro is served more quickly than in a restaurant. Although my Russian dictionary does have a similar looking word, I am dubious about the etymology.
As a hammer dulcimer player, I HAVE heard of this word.
However, the sentence examples don't use this word. They are in French, and their "santir" may actually be a misspelling of the word "sentir" meaning to feel. It's possible that they mean an unusual French word, but I didn't find it in online French dictionaries, such as Larousse.
Also the two sentences are the same quote, but the second instance has typos.
Comments by look_it_up_family
look_it_up_family commented on the word hack
According to my young adult children in 2009, the terms "can" or "can't hack it" --meaning being able to do something or not--are becoming obsolete. They didn't understand me, and thought immediately of computers. In the 70's and 80's, those were very common slang phrases.
November 11, 2009
look_it_up_family commented on the word bistro
A friend told me the word "bistro" comes from the Russian word for quick or fast. The implication is that the food at a bistro is served more quickly than in a restaurant. Although my Russian dictionary does have a similar looking word, I am dubious about the etymology.
April 19, 2009
look_it_up_family commented on the word anecdata
On the PBS News Hour just now (3 April 2009), a correspondent used the word anecdata, which I assume is a contraction for anecdotal data.
April 3, 2009
look_it_up_family commented on the word santir
As a hammer dulcimer player, I HAVE heard of this word.
However, the sentence examples don't use this word. They are in French, and their "santir" may actually be a misspelling of the word "sentir" meaning to feel. It's possible that they mean an unusual French word, but I didn't find it in online French dictionaries, such as Larousse.
Also the two sentences are the same quote, but the second instance has typos.
March 31, 2009
look_it_up_family commented on the word brighten
I've never before seen this use of "brighten" to mean something like ameliorate:
"They drank linden tea to brighten a cold or tame the nerves." The Zookeeper's Wife, pg 21
I like the synonym "ameliorate" because this use of brighten was in the context of linden honey and its uses.
March 31, 2009