[Ads-l] WOTY candidate

[Laurence Horn]

> On Aug 29, 2017, at 8:59 PM, Chris Waigl <chris at LASCRIBE.NET> wrote:
> 
> Well there's the circle of security, the line of duty and the triangle of
> opportunity. I'm sure there are more expressions that fit the template "the
> [geometric object] of [noun ending in -ty]”.

Well, there are a number of attestations for “the triangle of infidelity”.  Also quite a few for “the square of infinity”, but that’s an exponent rather than a geometric figure (cf. also “the square root of infinity”).  “The pyramid of ability” is apparently something Ayn Rand-y; I didn’t have the stomach for the details.  

One hit for “the sphere of absurdity”.  None at all, alas, for “the rhombus of rotundity” or “the parallelogram of profundity".

LH

> 
> On Tue, Aug 29, 2017 at 2:33 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> How about "cone of uncertainty"?
>> 
>> Originally a mystery flavor at Baskin-Robbins.
>> 
>> JL
>> 
>> ​
>> 
> -- 
> Chris Waigl . chris.waigl at gmail.com . chris at lascribe.net
> http://eggcorns.lascribe.net . http://chryss.eu
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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