The Grim Reaper is a symbolic personification of death in Western culture. He is usually depicted as a skeletal figure wearing a black hooded robe and carrying a scythe. The image comes from medieval Europe, especially after the Black Death, when death became a constant and visible presence in everyday life.
The word “reaper” originally means someone who harvests crops. In this metaphor, human lives are “harvested” when their time is over. The scythe reinforces this idea: death cuts life down the way a farmer cuts grain. The adjective “grim” describes the Reaper’s cold, emotionless, and unavoidable nature. He does not judge, negotiate, or show mercy—he simply arrives when the time comes.
Importantly, the Grim Reaper is not evil in a moral sense. He does not kill out of hatred or cruelty; he represents inevitability. This makes him different from demons or villains. In many stories, the Grim Reaper is calm, silent, and even fair, emphasizing that death is a natural part of life rather than a punishment.
Culturally, the Grim Reaper helps people give a human shape to an abstract fear. By turning death into a figure, people can talk about it, imagine it, and even joke about it. Philosophically—especially from an Epicurean point of view—the Grim Reaper exists mainly in imagination. Death itself is not something we experience; only the living fear it.
“Let it slide” is an informal English idiom meaning to choose not to react to something that could be criticized, corrected, or confronted. It implies awareness, not ignorance. The speaker notices the issue but deliberately decides not to act on it.
Crucially, letting something slide does not mean approving of it or agreeing with it. Instead, it reflects a conscious judgment that responding would be unnecessary, counterproductive, or damaging to the situation or relationship. The focus is on restraint, not forgiveness.
The expression often appears in social, emotional, or power-sensitive contexts—family interactions, classrooms, workplaces, or personal relationships—where enforcing rules or manners might escalate tension. For example, a teacher might let a small disruption slide to maintain class flow, or a friend might let a rude comment slide to avoid an argument.
Compared with similar phrases: • “Forgive” implies moral resolution. • “Overlook” suggests not noticing. • “Let it slide” means noticing and choosing restraint.
There is also a subtle sense of temporariness. What is allowed to slide once may not be tolerated again. This makes the phrase particularly effective for signaling boundaries without asserting authority overtly.
In literature, let it slide often reveals character psychology: patience, emotional intelligence, fatigue, or strategic withdrawal. It marks a moment where silence becomes an action.
In short, “let it slide” means: I see it, but I won’t engage.
An API is a defined interface that allows one system to request and receive services from another system, using agreed-upon rules, without human involvement.
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Plain version
An API is how software talks to software.
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Slightly deeper
An API turns a system’s capabilities into callable functions, so they can be used without knowing how the system works internally.
Tenuous means weak, fragile, or uncertain, especially in a way that could easily break, fail, or disappear.
At its core, tenuous describes something that exists, but only just.
It is often used for connections, relationships, arguments, or situations rather than physical objects.
For example, a tenuous connection is a link that is barely holding together. It may look connected on the surface, but one small change could break it. A tenuous relationship suggests emotional distance, lack of trust, or weak commitment. People are connected, but not deeply.
Tenuous is also common in abstract contexts: • a tenuous argument = not well supported by evidence • a tenuous hope = hope that feels fragile and uncertain • a tenuous peace = calm that could collapse at any moment
The word often carries a quiet tension. It suggests instability without drama — not a sudden collapse, but a constant risk of one.
Tone-wise, tenuous sounds neutral to slightly pessimistic, and it is more common in literary, academic, or thoughtful writing than in casual speech.
In short: tenuous = barely holding, easily lost, not secure.
It’s the perfect word for situations that feel real — but not safe.
Blackballed means being excluded, rejected, or quietly shut out from a group, profession, or opportunity—often without an official explanation.
The word comes from old voting practices in private clubs, where members used white and black balls to vote. A single black ball could block a candidate’s admission. Over time, to be blackballed came to mean being denied access based on reputation, disapproval, or perceived risk rather than formal rules.
In modern usage, blackballed usually implies informal punishment. You may not be fired, banned, or publicly criticized, but doors stop opening. Calls aren’t returned. Opportunities disappear. The person is treated as “trouble” or “not worth it,” even if they have talent or qualifications.
The term is often used in industries driven by networks—sports, entertainment, politics, academia—where reputation and relationships matter as much as ability. Being blackballed can result from breaking unwritten rules, challenging authority, or simply being seen as inconvenient.
Importantly, blackballing is rarely documented. That’s what makes it powerful. There is no appeal process, no clear accusation—just silence. It functions as social control: people learn what not to do by watching who quietly vanishes.
In short, blackballed doesn’t mean you failed. It often means you didn’t play by the invisible rules.
Debunked means that a claim, story, or belief has been carefully examined and proven to be false or misleading. It is stronger than simply saying something is “wrong.” When something is debunked, it usually means that evidence, facts, or reliable sources have been used to show why the claim does not hold up.
The word is often used in journalism, science, and fact-checking. For example, if a dramatic photo or headline spreads online with a false explanation, and reporters investigate its origin, context, and details, the corrected conclusion may be labeled debunked. This tells readers that the claim has already been tested and does not match reality.
An important nuance of debunked is intent. It does not always imply bad faith. Sometimes misinformation spreads because of misunderstanding, poor context, or emotional reactions. Calling something debunked focuses less on blaming people and more on ending the confusion.
Compared to similar words: • False simply means incorrect. • Misleading means partly true but likely to cause misunderstanding. • Debunked means the claim has been actively dismantled through verification.
In short, debunked signals closure. It says: this idea sounded convincing, but once checked against facts, it does not stand.
Whip together is an informal, conversational English expression that means to make or prepare something quickly and with little effort, usually using what is already available. It is most commonly used in American English, especially in everyday speech, novels, and dialogue.
The verb “whip” originally refers to fast, energetic motion (like whipping cream). When combined with “together,” it creates the idea of speed, ease, and spontaneity. The phrase does not suggest carelessness or low quality. Instead, it implies familiarity and confidence—someone knows what they’re doing well enough to act quickly.
In cooking contexts, whip together means preparing a simple meal without formal planning: • “I can whip together some pasta.” This suggests a relaxed, homey dish made from ingredients already on hand.
Outside cooking, it can also mean quickly creating or assembling something: • “She whipped together a presentation.” • “He whipped together an email.”
The tone is casual and friendly. It often carries a subtle message of competence without showing off. In social or romantic contexts, it can suggest warmth and ease, as if the speaker is comfortable inviting someone into their everyday life.
Similar expressions include “throw together”, “put together quickly,” or “make something quick,” though whip together feels slightly more confident and energetic.
Overall, whip together conveys speed, simplicity, and relaxed confidence—a very American conversational flavor.
Cross up means to deliberately or unexpectedly do the opposite of what someone expects, causing confusion, surprise, or loss of balance—physically or mentally.
At its core, cross up combines cross (to go against, contradict, or intersect) and up (to disrupt or throw into disorder). The phrase implies an active reversal of expectation, not a simple mistake.
In sports
In baseball, to cross up the catcher means the pitcher throws a different pitch or location than what the catcher signaled. If accidental, it’s a minor error; if intentional, it’s dangerous and seen as a serious breach of trust because the catcher may be unprepared and get injured.
In basketball, to cross someone up means using a fake or crossover move to make the defender shift the wrong way—sometimes so badly that they lose balance. This use is more playful and skill-based.
In everyday English
Outside sports, cross up can mean to confuse someone’s plans or expectations, often suddenly: • “The last-minute change really crossed me up.” • “His answer crossed everyone up.”
Key nuance • It implies misdirection, not ignorance • Often intentional or avoidable • Carries a stronger tone than confuse
In short, cross up = to wrong-foot someone by violating their expectation, whether physically, strategically, or mentally.
Sloughed is the past tense of slough, and its core meaning is to shed, cast off, or discard something that no longer belongs—often gradually, sometimes deliberately.
Originally, slough comes from biology and medicine. It refers to the natural process by which dead skin, tissue, or cells peel away from a body. Think of a snake shedding its skin, or damaged tissue separating from healthy flesh. That biological sense carries a strong image: removal that restores or renews what remains.
From there, the word expanded into metaphorical and everyday use. When you slough off something, you remove it with a sense of ease or inevitability, as if it was never truly part of you. Clothing can be sloughed off, but so can habits, responsibilities, identities, guilt, or emotional burdens. Compared to take off or remove, slough off feels more organic and detached, almost unconscious.
In literature, sloughed is especially powerful because it suggests transformation, not just action. When a character sloughs off a coat, the word subtly implies more than physical movement—it hints at warmth replacing cold, protection being abandoned, or a shift in mental state. The act feels bodily, instinctive, and intimate.
So sloughed doesn’t just mean “removed.” It means shed like skin, released without struggle, and left behind as part of becoming something else.
LEDE (pronounced “leed”) is a journalism term that means the opening sentence or opening paragraph of a news story—the part designed to grab attention and deliver the most important information right away. Its purpose is to answer, as quickly and clearly as possible, the key questions of a story: who, what, when, where, why, and how.
The spelling “lede” is intentional. It originated in newspaper newsrooms to avoid confusion between lead (the beginning of a story) and lead (the metal used in old printing presses). To prevent costly mistakes during typesetting, editors adopted the alternative spelling, which later became standard newsroom jargon. While the spelling is unusual, the pronunciation remains the same as lead.
A strong lede sets the tone for the entire piece. It tells readers why the story matters and persuades them to keep reading. In breaking news, the lede is usually direct and factual. In feature writing, it may be more descriptive or narrative, drawing readers in with imagery or a compelling anecdote before revealing the main point.
In broadcast journalism, “the lede” often refers to the top story of a show—the headline topic introduced at the very beginning. Whether in print, online, or on television, the lede is the journalist’s most critical real estate: if it fails, the story is likely ignored.
主なスーパー • Katagiri Japanese Grocery – 老舗の日本食材店、ミッドタウンなどに店舗あり • Dainobu – 人気の日本食材スーパー • Mitsuki Japanese Market – ブルックリンの小さめ日系マーケット • Hashi Market – 日本のお菓子や和牛など扱う新しい市場系 • Tokyo Mart Japanese Market – ブルックリンの日本食材店 • Genkiya Mart – ソーホーの日本マーケット • Midoriya Japanese Grocery – ブルックリン系日系マーケット • Ten Ichi Mart – 日本系の食材を扱う小スーパー • Hakata Japanese Market – ブルックリンの日本系食材店 • Fujisan Japanese Mart – クイーンズにも日本食材マーケット • Fushimi Market – 和食材が揃うマーケット • Oki mart & deil Japanese grocery – イーストミッドタウンの小さなマーケット • Japan Village – ブルックリンの人気店(Japanese grocery store) • Shinjuku Japanese Deli – 小規模だけど日本デリ系店舗
there were two things i was thinking while i was away; to study architecture, or become a hand bag designer. after i came back, i thought to move to LA, go to school and study a same thing i've done last couple months.
There are many toxic companies filled with aged employees where young generations don't join. As the aged do not easily quit even such a company, the working conditions get worse day after day. (toxic companies... so called black companies in Japan)
I was in middle school back in the 80s. The game center got banned and I got caught by a teacher who also happened to be the manager of my club. Because of that, I had to write a repentance letter lol
I didn't really think what was wrong so it was hard to write. I didn't think going to the game center was a sin at all lol But I had to pretend to show it to the teacher how bad I was lol
I used to like the club manager, but after being treated like a criminal, I couldn't look at him the same way. That experience traumatized me ... And now that I'm in America, I can see how stupid that culture was. It was like a mild version of North Korea lol
I don't want to go back to Japan anymore and I won't raise my kids there. Japanese culture for that experience? No way lol