Reader question: Please explain “hanging by a thread” in this passage: “How are you, Mr. Brown?” “I’m just hanging by a thread,” said Mr. Brown. “Is it as bad as that?” asked Mr. Hunter. “Oh, I’m all ...

Please explain this sentence, with “get their ducks in a row” in particular: For students, summer is the time to get their ducks in a row.

Please explain “run on empty” in this passage: They treat us like we’re meant to run on empty, as if they haven’t already drained us dry. And still, we’re expected to keep showing up. That’s a shop, ...

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Reader question: Why are a single-child families called “one and done families”? My comments: Literally, it means the parents of those families bear ONE child AND then decide they’re DONE with it.

What’s wishy-washy? As in this sentence: Trump is very wishy-washy on the issue of women’s rights, so it’s hard to pin him down on any stance.

A teetotaler is someone who drinks tea, coffee and other liquids but not alcohol. Teatotaler, on the other hand, is a misspelling. What it supposedly stands for is “tea totaler”, presumably someone ...