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What’s Wrong with “Senior Citizen”?

Does the term “senior citizen” annoy you? Is there a more appealing term? Martha and Grant revisit the question. Also, what does “pushing the envelope” really mean? Grant presents a quiz about sla

What’s Wrong with “Senior Citizen”?

Originally aired February 24, 2007

(Photo: Real life pilot Chuck Yeager and the actors who starred in The Right Stuff know a little something about "pushing the envelope." Warner Home Video )

Does the term “senior citizen” annoy you? Is there a better word for it? Martha and Grant revisit the question.

Also, what does the expression “pushing the envelope” really mean, and what’s the origin of the term “dry run”? Should you be flattered if someone calls you “hankty”?

And do you know what a “headless nail” is, or what it means to “bang in?” Find out during our slang quiz.
Support for A Way With Words comes from Thinkmap, maker of the Visual Thesaurus, an interactive dictionary and thesaurus. The Visual Thesaurus brings language to life. Learn more at VisualThesaurus.com.