PRwiz101's definitions

helium parenting

(n.) -- A method of parenting which is similar to the way a child holds a balloon, in which parents allow their children to rise like a helium-filled balloon and float on their own, while at the same time making sure that their growing sons and daughters have a strong grasp on the string so that they do not float away to unknown parts.

"My parents were good to me, and they raised me with helium parenting ideas. They gave me a lot of freedom when I was a child but they were always there for me, too. I loved being a balloon and yet I was glad they made sure I was holding on to the string."

overheard at a watercooler in the hallway at Temple Beth Shalom in
Toronto, Janary 31, 2012

by PRwiz101 August 1, 2012

throat therapy

Food, a snack, comfort food, fast food, gourmet food. Also coffee, tea, wine, beer or a cold milkshake on a hot summer day.

"Let's stop at the next rest stop on the highway and get some throat therapy."

by PRwiz101 July 3, 2008

slablet

(n.) - a slang word for a computer tablet such as the iPad or other branded tablet devices

"There are so many computer tablets to choose from these days, and more are on the way, I'm not sure which slablet to buy."

-- overheard at a watercooler in Redmond, Washington on April 7, 2010

by PRwiz101 April 8, 2010

screengrab

(n.) -- An image taken from a computer screen or homepage and duplicating it on a newspaper or magazine page (grabbing the image from the screen)

"That YouTube video image in the newspaper today was a screengrab, that's how the editors got it, off the computer screen."

-- overheard in a newsroom at a newspaper in New York, July 3, 1999

by PRwiz101 March 10, 2010

teasewich

(n.) -- A convenience store sandwich that looks like it is stuffed with fillings, from the outside view on the shelf, but once you open the plastic wrapping, the sad truth becomes evident that you've been had.

''I just hate it when I plunk down good cold cash for what I think is going to be a big tuna sandwich, but when I open the wrapping, it's just a teasewich, and there's hardly anything inside the bread! They just use the mouth of the sandwich as a come on!"

by PRwiz101 August 8, 2011

grypo

(n.) -- a grammar mistake in a print newspaper or magazine or online publication

"I'm used to all the typos in the newspapers these days, but what
really irritates me is when I see a major grypo that neither the
editors nor the proofreaders caught! Whatever happened to correct grammar usage?"

overheard at a watercooler in a newspaper newsroom in Boston, January 23, 2011

by PRwiz101 May 20, 2011

cameo visibility

(n.) - The fact or state of something being at least visible in society, even if not everyone knows about it yet.

"You know, even if nobody has heard of my ideas for safer bike lanes yet, I hope that they can at least achieve a small degree of cameo visibility this century."

-- overheard at a watercooler at a national conference for
designers and inventors in San Francisco

by PRwiz101 January 17, 2011