Mull

[TomK]

OK, strange topic, but over the last few years I've lived here I keep seeing the word "mull", "mulling" or "mulled" when it comes to local politics. I know what it means but have never seen the word used as much at it is here.

The latest example is https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/202...-counties/ but not picking on that one. I just see the word all the time and it's not a word I see used elsewhere very often. Wordsmiths or journalists please respond, but happy to read people's opinions.

[alaskyn66]

Easier to spell than considers, or contemplates I suspect. And headline space might be an issue.

[PaulW]

Oh mist rolling in from the sea...

I've seen that word used all over the English-speaking media world (UK too - google "johnson mulls"), always thought it was a bit strange, I imagine a cow chewing its cud.
I think alaskyn66 has found the reason. It's a bit like the word "eyes", often used in sports headlines.

I'm sure the local pollies do a lot of mulling around, easier than actually doing something, anything.

[kalianna]

I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it but saw it used twice in online press this AM. From the context it seems to mean to acknowledge awareness of an issue without implying that there might be any real action taken to address it.

[kalakoa]

awareness of an issue without implying that there might be any real action taken

Exactly, but using an erudite word makes it seem more substantial.

Replace "mull" with "talk story (about)" and see how it sounds.

the word "eyes", often used

Here it means "intending to have", as in "Council eyes tax increase".

headline space might be an issue

Only for the dead tree edition.

[TomK]

Thanks, everyone. Did a little thesaurus research myself. I've learned a bunch of new words and will probably start off with "woolgathering" in another thread soon.

Paul's response made me think of "ruminate". It's a very underused word but means to think deeply about something but also refers to how cows eat.

[geochem]

quote:

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Originally posted by TomK

Thanks, everyone. Did a little thesaurus research myself. I've learned a bunch of new words and will probably start off with "woolgathering" in another thread soon.

Paul's response made me think of "ruminate". It's a very underused word but means to think deeply about something but also refers to how cows eat.

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yes, ruminate I think is a good word: best applied to our political "leaders", since rumination mostly produces slightly digested sh!t (and abundant hot gases) whose only conceivable beneficial use is as fertilizer.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

geochem & ruminate:
Excellent definition! I would add a somewhat similar description:

standing around, feeding themselves on the taxpayer's dime, and calling it work

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TomK & mull:

From my Dictionary of Etymology:

mull 1
1303 - grit (Middle Dutch), dust (Middle Low German)
1400 - dust, ash, rubbish
1440 - grind, pulverize (Middle English)
1873 - ponder

mull 2
1607 - make wine or beer into a sweet, spiced, hot drink

Headline writers wisely don't define their usage, so politicians and government workers can believe they're described as slowly preparing a delicious beverage for taxpayers. Taxpayers understand they'll most likely receive ground up rubbish after ponderous research, strategizing, planning, and lengthy discussions are published as a fact finding PDF.

[jrw]

He like harry and the Governor mulls over TMT

jrw

[TomK]

Blench. It's not a word I have heard before but I love it. It's simple, uncomplicated and is so appropriate for our state and county politicians.

https://www.dictionary.com/e/word-of-the...020-02-11/

to shrink; flinch; quail: an unsteady eye that blenched under another's gaze.

As in: Both Ige and Kim blenched when asked to enforce the law.