I just read an article about how a French magazine edited out some of Sarkozy's "poignees d'amour." This made me wonder how this concept is rendered in other languages. I thought it might make for interesting reading. As long as someone out there has something to add, that is. These are th...

To determine paternity officially.

This comes up rather frequently, most lately in the Anna Nicole Smith brouhaha over the paternity of her son and his inherited wealth. Sorry for the cynicism, but I doubt anyone out there is really concerned about the kid.

Slava

Sorry, it's not a verb, but just a great word, IMHO.

"The refuse from cider making."

Slava

1. To testify under oath (something the current US administration does on very rare occasion).

2. To depose.

3. To bet.

Slava

Would rice really change the consistency of the soup? Or would it just add bulk?

How's this one: You should slowly stir in flour to incrassate your beef drippings to form a roux.

Slava

Optional. Antonym to obligatory.

Sadly, it seems many members of the faculty found out that tenure awards were facultative.

Slava

To expose to sunlight.

"You shouldn't apricate yourself so much. Your skin will turn to leather."

Any relation to apricot?

Slava

Dress flashily, over-decorate, etc.

Plus, it's a verb!

Slava

Folk etymology here, but my thoughts are that one of the roots of the confusion is the idea of the j/gerry can of WWII days. Since things at that time had to be fixed up any way they could, perhaps by extension this has led to the blending of the phrases?

Slava

Egad, you blighter! Thou hast stolen my word! Just yesterday I was thinking of posting this one as a suggestion, and you've beaten me to the punch. That'll teach me to wait a day. I do like it, though, so I'm glad someone has suggested it. However, I never thought of it as being overly cutesy. My fe...

Thanks gailr. Interesting coincidence that it is listed under twig2, also. Did you look at twig3? Another usage in Britain.

Slava

Does anyone out there know how this came to mean "caught on"? Or "came to understand"? I like it so much I even use it.

Slava

In case you're interested in language history, you might find this worth looking at:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0719/p13s01-stgn.htm

No registration necessary.

Slava

A bunch of interesting meanings in this one. How fast are you? I may be fast, but I'm not cheap? Or, I'm so fast I'm not cheap? Or...?

I hope you all enjoy playing with this one.

Slava

"Let me ingeminate, I am not a crook."