5 June 2016

cockamamie or cockamamy

[kok-uh-mey-mee]

adjective, Slang.

1. ridiculous, pointless, or nonsensical:
full of wild schemes and cockamamie ideas.

Origin of cockamamie

1940-1945, probably earlier than 1940-45, Americanism; in orig. sense, paper strip with an image which could be transferred to the skin when moistened, apparently alteration of decalcomania; sense “ridiculous” probably by association with cock-and-bull story, poppycock, etc.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for cockamamie

Contemporary Examples

“The whole ticking-time-bomb thesis is … so cockamamie,” said Carle.
Human Rights Watch: Prosecute Bush, Cheney Over Torture Crimes
R.M. Schneiderman
July 11, 2011

I wonder how much the Federalist Society invested in this cockamamie responsible procreation idea.
More on Responsible Procreation
Michael Tomasky
March 26, 2013

In this cockamamie get-rich scheme, would they all issue an apology if he cut a check?
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers
Stereo Williams
January 7, 2015

Anagram

make a comic
I comma cake

Today’s quote

I hated every minute of training, but said, “don’t quite. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion”.’

– Muhammad Ali

On this day

5 June 1967 – start of the Six Day War, when Israel attacked Egypt and Syria. During the six days of the War, Israel occupied the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, West Bank and East Jerusalem, effectively doubling its size. Although Israel eventually withdrew from the Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula, it continues to controversially occupy Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem.

5 June 1968 – Robert F. Kennedy, Presidential candidate and brother of JFK, shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian-born, Jordanian citizen. Kennedy died the following day. In an interview with David Frost in 1989, Sirhan stated that he opposed Kennedy’s support of Israel and plan to send 50 bombers to Israel to ‘obviously do harm to the Palestinians’. Sirhan was initially sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison.

5 June 1989 – the ‘Tank Man’ halts a column of Chinese tanks in Beijing for more than half an hour, following protests in Tiananmen Square.

5 June 2000 – start of the Six Day War in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, between Ugandan and Rwandan forces, destroying a large part of the city.

5 June 2012 – death of Ray Bradbury, American fantasy, science-fiction, horror and mystery fiction writer. Author of Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, The Illustratred Man, Something Wicked This Way Comes. The movie Butterfly Effect uses a similar theory to that described in Bradbury’s short-story A Sound of Thunder. In one scene, a Sound of Thunder pennant is hanging on the dormitory door of the main character, Evan. Michael Moore’s movie Fahrenheit 9/11 was named after Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. Bradbury was not happy with this and pressured Moore to change the title, which Moore refused to do. Born 22 August 1920.

4 June 2016

hoosegow or hoosgow

[hoos-gou]

noun, Slang.

1. a jail.

Origin of hoosegow

Mexican Spanish, Latin

1860-1865, Americanism; < Mexican Spanish jusgado jail ( Spanish: court of justice, orig. past participle of juzgar to judge) < Latin jūdicātum, equivalent to jūdic- (stem of jūdex) judge + -ātum -ate1

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for hoosegow

Historical Examples

The next thing I heard, two men we’ve been keeping an eye on were in the hoosegow, one with a slug in his shoulder.
The Wailing Octopus
Harold Leland Goodwin

“The boss is in the hoosegow,” answered Pete, his voice tragic.
Good References
E. J. Rath

It’s a long walk down to the hoosegow and I don’t want to take you there.
Young People’s Pride
Stephen Vincent Benet

It would infuriate the Judge to sentence those buzzards to the hoosegow for life.
David Lannarck, Midget
George S. Harney

Anagram

goose who

Today’s quote

We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out.

– Winston Churchill

On this day

4 June 1988 – death of Sir Douglas Nichols KCVO, OBE. Aboriginal activist, raising awareness of aboriginal issues, including treating aborigines with dignity and as people. He played for Carlton football club in the A-grade Victorian Football League (VFL), leaving after racist treatment and joining the Northcote football club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA). Nicholls became a minister and social worker. In 1957, he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 1972 he was the first aborigine to be knighted. In 1976, he became the 28th governor of South Australia, the first aborigine to be appointed to a vice-regal position. He was born on 9 December 1906.

4 June 1989 – Tiananmen Square massacre, Beijing, China. Around a million people had flooded into Tiananmen Square over the past few days, protesting for democracy. On 4 June, the Chinese Army stormed the Square with tanks and armoured cars, killing hundreds of protestors, while arresting thousands of others.