h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"headgear"

Um, overtones of drug dealers and recreational (or indeed medicinal) drug use in general?

idealbodymassratiochallengedgenderneutralmonarchicalpersonbutifyou'rearepublicanthat'sOKtoo cranial covering

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Or those who cannot afford the luxury of a "thinking cap".

Dearie me....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/04/26/nedu126.xml

And a very reasoned examination of the "story" http://www.kieranhealy.org/blog/archives/000392.html

... and "nitpicking" could be offensive to those who are or have surreferdfrom headlice????

"Children, this lady is from the council. Her name is Mrs Allerdice. She is going to spend just a few moments with each of you, to make sure you don't have any problems with your scalp."

Stage whisper "Its Nitty Norah."

"Billy, come and see me at break."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/03/nbook03.xml#2

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=nit
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-nit1.htm

I meant to add that I am sure the term has been around a lot longer than 1951, which is "supposed" to be the date at which it was first used, according to various sources.

well, first recorded. So probably in use for a while before that, especially if it started off in admin and government circles.

interesting to read all that though. Some good comments in there.

"... and "nitpicking" could be offensive to those who are or have surreferdfrom headlice????"

Hang on, surely that's 'everyone who ever went to school'.

meeting of minds

you can add a professions in between

meeting of creative minds
meeting of nurd minds
meeting of medical minds
meeting of commercial minds*


* record company execs who like it that fans being sued instead of them, eventho they are selling above price. while illegal copies are increasing. rises another question: why is MacD not sueing costumers for getting fat and blaming it on MacD.