|
Slang of the Week: glitz
(noun)
Spectacular but superficial display
Example:
If you want to see glitz, go to Las Vegas.
Celebrity quote:
"Well, I'm glad they cut back on all the glitz. You probably
noticed there was no fancy red carpet tonight. That'll send them a message."
-Steve Martin, host of this year's Academy Awards
If you didn't see the show, Martin was being ironic. The sets, costumes
and guests were as glitzy as ever, even if there was no red carpet.
The word glitz comes from glitter plus ritz, after the expensive
Ritz hotel chain.
In other Oscar slang, presenter Denzel Washington announced, "And
the Oscar goes to... by a nose, Nicole Kidman." From the world
of horse racing, by a nose means victory by a narrow margin. Of
course, Washington didn't know how close the race was - it was a pun about
Kidman's fake nose in The Hours. In defense of his passionate kiss
for presenter Halle Berry, Best Actor winner Adrien Brody said, "Well,
if you ever have an excuse to do something like that, that's it. I took
my shot (I made my effort)."
On a cultural note, if you're not from the US, you might have been baffled
by Martin's remark that "The teamsters are helping Michael
Moore into the trunk of his limo" after the documentary filmmaker's
comments criticizing President Bush. The Teamsters Union provides drivers
for movie productions and is often rumored to have ties to organized crime.
What's
new at Slang City?
Congratulations to the Oscar Winners! We salute Best Picture - Chicago,
with the 1920s-style song All That
Jazz and Best Song - Lose Yourself
by Eminem, with information on hoes and prima donnas.
|
