How to describe things

0

By Bob Batz

I’ve always gotten a kick about some of the words that have been used over the years to describe things we can’t seem to come up with easy-to-remember words for.

“Phil,” the garage mechanic says, “hand me the thing-a-ma-jig from the tool box, please.”

“Nancy, what’s that doo-hickey dangling on your refrigerator door?”

“Hey, Gertie, who got you that what-cha-ma-call-it on your kitchen cupboard?”

At one time, thing-a-ma-jigs and what-cha-ma-call-its were all part of the American language.

Back then our language also included the word doo-dads.

The weird words go on and on.

We have lived with some of them for many, many years. Decades, even.

Others have quietly come and gone without us really noticing their passing.

Maybe you have noticed that many once-popular words have quietly come and gone without us even noticing their departures.

Even names have a way of fading away at some time or another.

Names that were once popular are hardly ever used any more.

Those departed monikers include – but are not limited to – Leroy, Edgar, Eunice, Francine, Becky, Bernie, Eleanor, Edgar, Helena, Harvey and a whole lot more.

My real name is Robert but you’d be surprised how many people just call me Bob.

At least it’s a name that’s easy to remember because even if you make a mistake and spell it backwards it still come out B-O-B.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/04/web1_BatzB-2.jpg

By Bob Batz

Bob Batz is a retired long-time journalist and weekly columnist. Contact Bob at [email protected].

No posts to display