Join two wayward radio hosts on A Way With Words, the call-in radio show about writing, speaking, slang, old sayings, and more.

Login   •   Register  

Monday, December 30, 2002

Offset, also known as countert

Offset, also known as countertrade, is a financial and contractual tool—a complicated form of bartering—which allows large international purchases to be made without upsetting trade balances or foreign exchange markets, or requiring large cash transfers or an easily convertible currency. The recent agreement by Poland to purchase 46 F-16 Falcon jets from American corporation Lockheed Martin included a massive offset program, purchases from Polish manufacturers that more than erase the costs of the deal in foreign exchange.

A man recently confessed by anonymous letter to more than 100 cases of stealing women’s lingerie fro

“Many years ago in Barberton I was know as the petycoat bandid. I started to go into homes in my 14 year of age. I could not stop myself as I was very fond of womens under clothes. “I will be 99 year of age. I went out west for my health in my 40 year of age. I just want to clear things up. “I’m sorry.” (Source Link)

A first-person report by Roopesh Kohad of the first day in operation of the Delhi Metro, December 25

“There is no place to sit anywhere in the whole station which is true for all other stations signifying the fast paced metro culture. There are yellow lines across all the platforms in all stations for people to stand behind them lest they collide with train. Finally, the train started shunting. Wow, what a beauty, its two orange lights glowing, LED display showing 001 and its horn so loud and sharp. As it made its way into the platform, people started shouting slogans, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai!.’ Then some people started ‘Jai shree Ram!’ God…, this saffronisation will never be away. I thought somebody would ‘[Delhi Metro Railway Corporation] ki Jai!’ or ‘Engineers ki Jai’ but none did. It was clicks galore at platform as many people took photgraphs. I also clicked away in this free for all frenzy. As soon as the doors opened there was huge uproar and clapping. People jumped and ran like some dog is behind them, to find to their surprise that whole train is connected, one big tube in which you could drift anywhere. I also boarded from one of the doors. After a minute or two, doors closed automatically and we left again with huge uproar inside.” (Source Link)

“A modern major general

“Tommy is not quiet about anything, he’s very outgoing and very opinionated. In the course of a five minute discussion about how you’re wrong and he’s right, he’ll use words that are and are not in the dictionary.” (Source Link)

“Single ‘n’ swinging: A growing number of women are saying no to marriage,” by Debapriya Ghosh, from

“I have puzzled matchmakers by letting many a good catch slip out and, of course, have denied relatives the pleasure of complaining at my wedding about the food, the presents and the boy’s family.” (Source Link)

This is the personal weblog of Grant Barrett, editor of the Double-Tongued Dictionary, a collection of words from the fringes of English. More about this site...

Recent Catchwords