[Ads-l] The Oval

[Dave Wilton]

"Don't say 'heir apparent' when we have men in moon suits hermetically sealing the Oval."

"No Exit." The West Wing, created by Aaron Sorkin, teleplay by Carol Flint, season 5, episode 20, John Wells Productions, 28 April 2004.

There are probably earlier appearances of "the oval" in that show, and as you say, it seems like it should be a lot older.


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Lighter
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2017 7:45 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: [ADS-L] The Oval

'The President's Oval Office.'

"Common sense" says this should date back to the John Adams administration, but I've only begun hearing it in the last few months.

In fact, CNN commentators now seem to prefer it to the long, boring, stodgy old "Oval Office."

JL



--
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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