Author Archives: liese ricketts

Skew-whiff

Definition of skew-whiff

British, informal: not straight : askew, a slightly skew-whiff door—often used figuratively. Their plans went a little skew-whiff.

Here in the US we tend to use “awry.” I guess I have to go back to another memory of my mother. She was very educated and a constant reader. So, when in a class at the University of Chicago, she used the word awry but pronounced it “aw-ree.” There was silence in the class. She repeated what she had said, not comprehending the strange looks on the faces of her fellows. The professor stopped and politely pronounced awry like “a-wry,” suggesting gently that that was what no doubt she had intended to say. So I guess her comment went skew-whiff.

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our first conversation

I won’t use “convo” as that is a a damaged wreck of a word, a totalled word. Let’s think of something fun.

How about a word or phrase that your mother used that you find yourself using as well? My mother used to say “you silly goose” to my children when they were young. Her tone was both affectionate and patronizing. Like saying, “Although you are very cute, I know better than you do.” I never use that phrase but it is one that makes me think of her, standing by the kitchen stove, looking down at her small grandson with a crooked smile.

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Hello.

Because I have little on my plate and no one within earshot, I thought it might be nice to communicate with you. Words make me think and language defines so much of who we are. Have a seat on the blanket here by the tree and grab a sandwich from the picnic basket. There is cold wine over there in the cooler and it’s a gorgeous day. This might be a nice space for us to spend time with some ideas.

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