homoerotic

A useful neologism, but one that is frequently misunderstood and misused.

1. Most literal meaning -- tending to engage or arouse sexual interest, or imply an erotic connection, by one man for another.

2. Extended meaning, sometimes misused (see Example 2 below): a coded type of homosexual reference invisible to heterosexuals. This is fine as far as it goes, but it should not exclude heterosexuals.

3. Similarly, if used carelessly, "homoerotic" can be misused to imply an environment in which same-sex attraction exists simply because of same-sex affiliation. In other words, a judgment is made regarding sexuality where none should exist, allowing the speaker to practice psychology without a license.

4. Often the butt of malapropisms.

.
1. The "Calamus" section of Walt Whitman's book of poetry LEAVES OF GRASS is frankly homoerotic in message and in symbolism. (It was also one of the sections 'banned in Boston').

2. Saying that Marlon Brando has "unique homoerotic appeal" is literally true, but should not be used in a context that would exclude the legitimate experience of erotic appeal that so many straight women felt.

3. To say that eight straight men in an office constitute a "homoerotic environment" implies a judgment that simply may not be true. Where's the attraction? "Homoerotic" should not be used as a pretentious and wrong substitute for "same-sex" or "homosexual" used literally.

4. "Al's dabbling in those homoerotic medicines." Tim Allen, on HOME IMPROVEMENT; his character should have said "homeopathic."

.

78👍 12👎

GMS

Abbreviation for "Guilty Mom Syndrome," a wonderfully flexible term which refers to the syndrome of mothers of young children feeling guilty about their inadequacies and trying to blame the world, but also to onlookers who wonder if that guilt would not be better addressed if the mothers would take responsibility for their own unhappiness.

~ "Doreen just bought Honey Bee another boatload of toys. Now she complains she can't pay the phone bill."
~ "Chalk it up to a very bad case of GMS."

1👍 1👎

Having an Average Weekend

Name of the rock-based instrumental tune that opened and closed the syndicated Canadian TV show, THE KIDS IN THE HALL (1990s).

The song was performed by a rock trio called "Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet," which name is, unfortunately, one character too long to fit the 30-character limit for tags. The band (1984-1991) was based in Toronto and one of its members was/is friends with one of the Kids in the Hall. Shadowy Men had a successful career in its relatively brief life and has a reputation as both innovative and influential, in that it fused Punk with Surf styles. The group's bassist, Reid Diamond, died of cancer in 1991.

.

See also UrbanDictionary listing: Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet.

"Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet" is an unusual name, even for an indie band."

"A lot of their tunes have quirky names, too: consider "Having an Average Weekend," which The Kids In The Hall used as the intro / outro music for their show."

"TMI! Unless I can win a bar bet with it."

.

3👍 1👎

sucking a tooth

Metaphor describing a phenomenon that is inherently painful or repulsive, but from which the spectator can't turn away -- it's as compelling as sucking a tooth socket that recently had a tooth in it.

"Worst. Play. Ever."

"Why did you stay?"

"It was a like sucking a tooth that had just been removed -- I knew it was awful and would stay awful, but I just couldn't stop watching."

3👍 1👎

-stan nations

The seven nations of West Central Asia that form a large subcontinental block and are generally the heirs of Mideastern, Asian far Eastern European cultural, linguistic and religious traditions.

The term is one of convenience often used by diplomats and other students of the region to refer to this large bloc of countries.

They are:

Afghanistan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

"Did you know "Stan" is Persian for "Place" or "Country?"
"As in what?"
"As in the -stan nations of Central Asia and other regions inside or near that area."
"And this helps me how?"
"It's a term you hear every now and then."

shaboinking

Making love, screwing. The prefix "sha" added to "boinking."

"Hey, why don't women blink while shaboinking with men?" -- BLOOM COUNTY comic, July 24, 2016.

9👍 2👎

spit in the wind

"Don't spit in the wind" is a commonly euphemized phrase in the USA, out of "Don't piss in the wind," a British nautical phrase with a literal meaning. Both phrases mean "Don't do something self-defeating," in the sense of "If you try to expectorate (urinate), don't do it into (against) the wind or the saliva (urine) will blow back on you in a nasty way."

A futile act is "spitting in the wind." So is a selfless but unheeding act that "boomerangs" or has dire consequences the doer hadn't contemplated, an act that "did more harm than good."

.
"You don't tug on Superman's cape /

You don't spit in the wind / *or 'into the wind'

You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger /

and you don't mess around with Jim."

.

Popular song, "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", ca. 1972,

James (Jim) Croce, singer/songwriter.

Lyrics copyright (c) EMI Music Publishing (as of this date).

.

33👍 19👎