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Olive989's definitions

Snake in the grass

Someone who pretends to be something other than what they are, while hiding a nefarious agenda.

Note (1.) A snake in the grass doesn't have to be sadistic, but they have to be self-serving enough, they don't care who they hurt in the process of achieving what they want.

Note (2.) The term "snake in the grass" has been around a long time. Long before people had lawnmowers, or constantly trimmed their lawns like a military buzz cut. So the grass metaphor used to be more obvious. When the average person's lawn used to grow past their ankles..snakes were rarely visible.
If you want to describe a cold blooded human with hidden intentions, "snake in the grass" isn't a bad choice.
by Olive989 March 23, 2023
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Compound Words

When two (whole) words are combined to create a new word with a new meaning.

(This new meaning can be wildly different from what the original two words mean on their own).

Additionally, there are three different kinds of Compound Words: Open, Closed, and Hyphenated.

Closed compound words have no spaces. Open compound words have separation between the two (or three) words. Hyphenated compound words have hyphens between words.

(Closed Compound Words):

Justice- Just, Ice,
Bargain- Bar, gain,
Kidnapping- Kid, Napping,
Grandparent- Grand, Parent,

Babysit- Baby, Sit,
Pineapple- Pine, Apple,

(Open Compound Words):

(While there’s a physical space between open compound words, the meanings of the two words have been combined. This is why they are still considered Compound.)

Examples:

Cell Phone- Cell, Phone,
First Aid- First, Aid,

Common Sense- Common, Sense,

Real Estate- Real, Estate,

Life Jacket- Life, Jacket,

Rib Cage- Rib, Cage,

Hot Dog- Hot, Dog,

Cotton Candy- Cotton, Candy,

(Hyphenated Compound Words):

Well-being- Well, Being,
Word-of-mouth- Word, Mouth, Of,

Up-to-date- Up, date, to,
Most native English speakers don't give compound words much thought...because we're so overly familiar with them in every day speech. However...Compound words are a great testament to how bizarre (and often hilarious) the English language can be.

Like think about the distinct departure in meaning between say: kidnapping vs. kid napping or one nightstand vs. one night stand, Or what about how we decided to define generational age with words like "Grand" or "Great?" (I.E. Great-Great-Grandparent). We all know there's nothing grand about aging itself, and not everyone's grandparents qualify as "grand" either. "Hot dog" is another little adventure.

There is so much about the world that's wonderful and weird sitting in front of us, but we miss out because we don't pay attention to what's overly familiar.
by Olive989 March 27, 2023
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Vertical Lips

While horizontal lips refer to the lips on a person's face, vertical lips refer to a woman's labia.
Person A: "I want to kiss your lips."

Person B: "Horizontal? Or vertical lips?"
by Olive989 March 3, 2023
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Freedom of the Press

(1.) (Gym etiquette):
Showing consideration to other gym members by not hogging machines or bench presses, others may want to use.

(2.) The freedom felt after physically venting one's daily frustrations, by lifting weights.
Better to abide by "freedom of the press" and be conscientious of other gym members, than hog a machine you are not using. Or are taking lengthy rest periods on, during the busiest time of day.
by Olive989 March 23, 2023
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Falling asleep at the wheel

When a hamster finds themselves really tuckered out, after all that cardio. And doesn't want to move from the wheel before taking a nap.
Man. Moo Moo sure has been falling asleep at the wheel a lot lately. I wonder how much he'd hate me if I poked his little belly right now.
by Olive989 March 3, 2023
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Negative Cue

The absence of something (some detail, signal, or anomaly) which highlights an answer to a problem or question.
Doctors used to believe all disease manifested as something foreign/outside the body attacking it. In the case of Scurvy, a lot of doctors got tunnel vision looking for a positive cue. (Some Germ or pathogen present that would explain the condition.) But none was to be found. It wasn't until biochemist Fredrick Gowland Hopkins considered what was absent (a lack of vitamin C) that the true cause of scurvy was discovered. This absence was a negative cue.
by Olive989 October 25, 2023
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Corn Fireworks

I think it's interesting we chose popcorn as our food of entertainment, when it's the only food we've got that purposefully explodes over and over again. Especially when it's made old fashioned style, on a stove with a clear lid....It's like watching corn fireworks.
by Olive989 March 8, 2023
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