Category Archives: Word of the Week

TRAINJOTTING CLASSIC: Word of the Week: Phantom of the Stopera

Posted on January 12, 2010 by TJ

Trainjotting turns three tomorrow. We’re feeling a bit nostalgic. from December 21, 2007 PHANTOM OF THE STOPERA /FANN tum uv the STOPP ruh/ noun: The people you see at your train stop each day that suddenly disappear, but pop into … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week: Purse-Reverse

Posted on May 20, 2009 by TJ

PURSE-REVERSE \PERS re VURS\ noun: The backpack-on-the-front method favored by European tourists in Grand Central who fear scary New Yorkers will steal their passports and guidebooks. Usage: My schlep through Grand Central was delayed as I waited for some Slavic … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week: DUMBRELLAS

Posted on May 15, 2009 by TJ

DUMBRELLAS /dumm BRELL uhz/ noun: People who clog the sidewalks with giant umbrellas even after the rain has, at least for the moment, stopped falling. Usage: I was cutting it close to make the 6:10 to Chappaqua, and missed my … Continue reading →

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Now We’re a Big Schott

Posted on March 29, 2009 by TJ

Big thanks to the NY Times for highlighting one of Trainjotting’s world renowned Words of the Week in the new word blog Schott’s Vocab. The one that linguist/wordplay maven (wordplayah?) Ben Schott published was the peculiar afflication that consumes countless … Continue reading →

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What Do You Call It When???

Posted on February 24, 2009 by TJ

We like to think we do a fair job of coming up with words for things that happen in the commuter’s day-to-day for which there heretofore were no words. We think Pershing Square-Dancing works pretty well, Phantom of the Stopera … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week: CRAPATHETIC

Posted on February 19, 2009 by TJ

CRAPATHETIC /CRAPP uh THET ick/ adj.: The state of steely indifference one must fine oneself in in order to assume a seat near the toilet on Metro-North. Usage: The 6:33 to Mt. Kisco wasn’t even full, but some fool grabbed a … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week: EMANCIGATER

Posted on February 4, 2009 by TJ

EMANCIGATER: \ee MAN sih GATE or\ noun: The intrepid soul who, upon exiting the subway train, risks embarassing rejection and attempts to push open the Emergency Only gate and free the hundreds of riders waiting impatiently to exit the turnstiles. (a.k.a. … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week: KNEEGOTIATIONS

Posted on January 22, 2009 by TJ

KNEEGOTIATIONS \NEE goh she AYY shunz\ noun: The awkward intertwining of two passengers’ legs as they share facing seats on Metro-North trains. Usage: A man took the seat facing me on the 8:16 to the city this morning, and after … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week Holiday Edition: MARCH OF THE PENGUINS

Posted on December 22, 2008 by TJ

MARCH OF THE PENGUINS: \MAHRRCH uvv the PENG\ gwinz noun: The late-night stagger of drunken commuters, clad in tuxedoes and cocktail dresses, through Grand Central after holiday parties in December. Usage: Once December rolls around, I like to grab a … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week Holiday Edition: GRAND CENTRAL VERMINAL

Posted on December 16, 2008 by TJ

GRAND CENTRAL VERMINAL \GRAND sent rull VERR minn ull\ noun: The large masses of fresh-faced teens and vacationing Midwesterners and Europeans that assemble in Grand Central Terminal around the holidays. Usage: I was running for the 5:17 to New Rochelle, … Continue reading →

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