mole

[Joel S. Berson]

At 4/15/2012 12:30 PM, Victor Steinbok wrote:
>Some of this can combine--"rat fink". Others, not so much--"mole rat" is
>something entirely different.
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Naked_Mole_Rat_Eating.jpg

Victor did not call attention to the possibility that a "mole rat"
that is uncovered becomes a naked mole rat.

Joel


>     VS-)
>
>On 4/15/2012 12:13 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>>A disgruntled former Fox News employee has been revealing hideous network
>>secrets on the Net. The media call him a "mole":
>>
>>    http://news.yahoo.com/fox-news-digs-mole-suspends-him-022042144.html
>>
>>A "mole," however, is a spy planted by the enemy.  In this case, there is
>>no enemy. The word they want is "turncoat" or "rat" or, for those of a
>>certain age, "fink."
>>
>>The same article tells how Gov. Romney inadvertently broke a verbal taboo
>>opening him to further ridicule.  The "mole" exposed him.
>>
>>JL
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org