Send your own additions
to the Oregon lexicon to 500 Words, Willamette Week, 822 SW
10th Ave., Portland, OR 97205, or e-mail mzusman@wweek.com.
Words sometimes escape us. Conventional language simply cannot
do justice to events of the past few weeks. So we at 500 Words
have been forced to come up with a lexicon of our own. Here
are a few terms from the new Oregon vocabulary.
Adams (A-dums) n. A seemingly innocuous,
almost congenial virus that nevertheless can be lethal.
"The Oregon Health Plan has got a bad case of the adams."
Allenesque (al-len-ESK) adj. Immense, huge.
"The majority of the capital-gains cuts that Salem Republicans
are seeking would benefit those with allenesque incomes."
Frink (FRINK) n. A beefy, dark-haired carnivore
with a strong disciplinary bent. "The House Judiciary Committee
is overrun with frinks."
Glickman (GLICK-man) v. To try to get something
for nothing. (Usage note: This is the Marshall--not Harry--variant.)
"Salem Republicans are glickmanning with their K-12 education
budget."
Intel (IN-tell) n. Gall, audacity. "PGE persuaded
the state Legislature to overturn a court decision giving
it $300 million for a useless nuclear plant. What intel!"
Kitzish (KITS-ish) adj. Haughty, sometimes
surly. "The adverse publicity about its treatment of overseas
workers and the hit to its earnings have made Nike far less
kitzish of late."
Metromanic (met-ro-MAN-ic) adj. Ambivalent,
unable to make a decision. "While publicly she is playing
cat and mouse, privately Vera Katz is anything but metromanic
when it comes to her re-election plans."
Rosaria (rose-AIR-ee-uh) n. Tradition, long-established
custom. "Last week's vote by the Portland City Council in
favor of a new north-side light rail was based as much on
rosaria as on careful study."
Snodgratic (snod-GRAT-ick) adj. Dull, dim.
"How can anyone oppose the idea of requiring the same background
checks for guns purchased at gun shows as for guns sold
at stores? That's
snodgratic!"
Sheed (SHEED) n. An emotional outburst. "We're
sure glad Chief Moose is outta here. His sheeds were getting
tiresome."
Worldcupitis (world-KUP-eye-tis) n. Feverish
excitement. "When kids get behind the wheel, they fall prey
to worldcupitis. That's why House Bill 2440, which would
restrict teen driving, deserves to pass."
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Willamette Week | originally
published June 23, 1999 |
