Burberry Man???

I found out this week that the word Koreans use to describe a 'flasher' (generally an older man who wears a trenchcoat and publically exposes himself to women) is "Burberry Man". Now, to me this suggests two things:

1, Korean lacks a rich vocabulary to describe modern concepts; and more importantly

2, It suggests that until Korea was opened up to the West the idea of a man publically exposing himself did not exist.

And from this, I will always have a great respect for the Chinese (and the Greeks). Stubborn as they are, linguistically they will always invent a Chinese word to descibe a concept rather than borrow a foreign word.

Anyway, on with this weeks words

his·tri·on·ic[his-tree-on-ik]
–adjective
Also, his·tri·on·i·cal.
1. of or pertaining to actors or acting.
2. deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior or speech.
–noun
3. an actor.
-adverb
4. histrionically


Fa·bi·an tactics[fey-bee-uhn]
–adjective
1. seeking victory by delay and harassment rather than by a decisive battle as in the manner of Fabius Maximus: Fabian policy.
2. of or pertaining to the Fabian Society.
–noun
3. a member of or sympathizer with the Fabian Society


quid pro quo
1. one thing in return for another
2. substitute
*Hannibal Lecter says this a lot.


me·ringue[muh-rang]
–noun
1. a delicate, frothy mixture made with beaten egg whites and sugar or hot syrup, and browned, used as a topping for pies, pastry, etc.
2. a pastry or pastry shell made by baking such a mixture, sometimes filled with fruit, whipped cream, etc.
*So to descibe something as 'meringue' is to say it is delicate and soft. ALso, meringue is the white stuff in the middle of a pavlova, my favourite Australian dessert.


quash[kwosh]
–verb (used with object)
1. to put down or suppress completely; quell; subdue: to quash a rebellion.
2. to make void, annul, or set aside (a law, indictment, decision, etc.).
*squash, crush, etc


chau·vin·ism[shoh-vuh-niz-uhm]
–noun
1. zealous and aggressive patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory.
2. biased devotion to any group, attitude, or cause.
adjective
3. chauvinistic
* Named from Napoleons troops, an especially loud-mouthed patriotic soldier.


pil·lo·ry[pil-uh-ree] plural -ries, verb, -ried, -ry·ing.
–noun
1. a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision.
–verb (used with object)
2. to set in the pillory.
3. to expose to public derision, ridicule, or abuse: The candidate mercilessly pilloried his opponent.
*You can see this in the first season of Rome. Julius Caesar has Pompey's murderer executed and displayed on the palace gates.


mol·li·fy[mol-uh-fahy]
–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy·ing.
1. to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease.
2. to mitigate or reduce; soften: to mollify one's demands.
*A word I might need to use this week.



loath[lohth, lohth]
–adjective
unwilling; reluctant; disinclined; averse: to be loath to admit a mistake.

also, 'loth'
*Barbossa in Pirates of the Caribbean says "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request" meaning "No".



re·cal·ci·trant[ri-kal-si-truhnt]
–adjective
1. resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory.
2. hard to deal with, manage, or operate.
–noun
3. a recalcitrant person.


And that's it for this time. I need to eat my noodles.