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May 3, 2026
This week’s themeGeometrical terms used figuratively This week’s words squarehead circle the wagons square-toed circumlocution square the circle How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Words to describe people Wordsmith Games
AWADmail Issue 1244A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and LanguageFrom: Jim Tang (mauijt aol.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--squarehead Lunkhead and bonehead might be apt synonyms, but I’m pretty sure the leading candidate is blockhead, thanks to Peanuts characters Charlie Brown and Lucy van Pelt. This is an anomaly of its own: Charlie Brown is famously known as the round-headed kid. Lucy’s grasp of geometry was wanting. Jim Tang, Kula, Hawaii From: Julian Lewin (lewinjulian yahoo.ca) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--squarehead Tête carrée, literally squarehead, is a Quebec French slang term, often derogatory, for an Anglophone or English Canadian, sometimes implying stubbornness. It was historically used to describe English speakers in Montreal, often those perceived as unilingual or dismissive of French culture. Julian Lewin, Montreal, Canada From: Karen McCarthy (karenfmccarthytc gmail.com) Subject: Circle the Wagons Thank you for the wonderful wordplay and word explorations you send to my inbox every day! I must say I was disappointed to see “circle the wagons” included in this week’s theme of geometric terms used figuratively. I’m sorry that no one has told you that this phrase is culturally insensitive, even offensive, and hurtful to Indigenous peoples. According to Indigenous Corporate Training: “‘Circle the wagons’ translates to ‘the savages are coming and we are about to be attacked.’ Hollywood movies about settlers in North America moving west to invade and inhabit the traditional territories of First Peoples contributed greatly to the formation of this phrase.” Thank you again for all that you do, and I hope you will publish some sort of acknowledgment of this. Karen McCarthy, Traverse City, Michigan
Thanks for writing. I do not regard the website you shared as an
authoritative guide to English usage. In researching the term, I checked
standard dictionaries and other reference works, and none labels circle
the wagons as objectionable, even though dictionaries do note such concerns
for many other terms when warranted.
In the NOTES, I had pointed out that the historical reality behind the phrase was mostly about containing livestock and organizing camp life, rather than the familiar Hollywood trope of fending off attacks. Even so, I understand your concern that the phrase can carry painful associations because of its connection with the history and mythology of westward expansion. Thank you for raising the issue. -Anu Garg From: Bryan Todd (boyanlj gmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--square-toed The word square is a compliment in the University of Nebraska fight song, “Dear Old Nebraska U”, written in 1923:
There is no place like Nebraska, Dear old Nebraska U. Where the girls are the fairest, The boys are the squarest Of any old school that I knew. Bryan Todd, Lincoln, Nebraska From: Tommy Thomason (tommythomason sbcglobal.net) Subject: Circumlocution Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat Jr., a Mississippi legislator, once gave a famous answer about his attitude toward whiskey. In shortened form: “If you mean the demon drink that poisons the mind, pollutes the body, desecrates family life, and inflames sinners, then I’m against it.” He paused to take a breath. “But if you mean the elixir of Christmas cheer, the shield against winter chill, the taxable potion that puts needed funds into public coffers to comfort little crippled children, then I’m for it. This is my position, and I will not compromise.” Tommy Thomason, Mystic, Connecticut From: Brenda J. Gannam (gannamconsulting earthlink.net) Subject: Circumlocution You don’t truly understand the meaning of circumlocution until you’ve attempted to get a straight answer from a person afflicted with logorrhea, often happily ignorant of the fact! Me: What time is it? Logorrheic: You know, I once had a wristwatch. It was a gold one with fancy filigree, and it looked just like the clock over at St. Peter’s on Grand Avenue where my third cousin once removed was baptized by the priest who was also named Fr. Peter. After the baptism, we all went out for lunch downtown at that Italian restaurant with the Mexican waiter, and the food was authentic Italian, but all the waiters were Mexican. You know, why can’t they hire Italian waiters? We had to wait about forty minutes for our food, and my aunt was not feeling well, so we all pulled out our phones and looked up “dizziness and its probable causes”, but ... Brenda J. Gannam, Brooklyn, New York
Email of the Week -- Brought to you by Oneupmanship
From: Henry M. Willis (hmw ssdslaw.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--square the circle When I was about to enter my senior year in high school, one of my classmates told me that he had heard that a new girl about to join our class was a genius who had invented a way to drill a square hole with a drill bit, a truly remarkable accomplishment that impressed me immensely. But when I finally got the chance to ask her about it, she looked completely baffled, both by my question and by the idea that anyone would concoct such a fairy tale. As it turns out, she was an artist, not an engineer. The same friend who came up with this ridiculous story spent the next year trying to get the two of us together. That worked out better: we celebrated our 46th anniversary last year. Henry Willis, Los Angeles, California From: Donald Aday (donaday yahoo.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--square the circle About squaring the circle, you note that “Anyone who still tries to solve this problem is being completely irrational (just like π).” True indeed, but, just like π, the effort is transcendental. Donald Aday, New Paltz, New York From: David Mezzera (damezz comcast.net) Subject: Square the Circle When I saw Fri’s term, it reminded me of a similar use in the boxing world: the squared circle, implying the shape of the boxing “ring!” David Mezzera, Vallejo, California From: Terry Stone (cgs7952 bellsouth.net) Subject: Squaring the Wit My brother, now 66, exuded wit from the moment he could speak. His snappy humor is disarming, and hilarity ensues when he is at family gatherings or any time he happens to be in, or passing through, the room. When he was a child, my mother was constantly after him to straighten up his bedroom. One day, when he was five, he came bouncing through the kitchen, about to head outdoors, and Mom stopped him with a threatening query, “What shape’s your room in?” He rolled his eyes, pivoted back the way he’d come, and disappeared down the hallway. A few moments later, he presented himself in front of her, his eyes dancing, looked up, declared, “Square!”, and dashed out the door before my speechless mother could react. Terry Stone, Goldendale, Washington  
Subject: Squarehead and circumlocution Chinese state media and pro-Iranian creators have been producing AI-generated videos mocking Trump and US policy. Some of these shorts echo the biting, irreverent bent and squared-off character designs of the animated TV series, South Park. These fast-paced clips have clearly gotten under the Trump administration’s thin skin. 
Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams
Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks squarehead Only two kinds of people I know: Some squareheads, and some who aren’t so! Either way, smart or dumb, Often times the outcome Of their choices lands where you’d not go. -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) I don’t like a person who’s dumb. When I’m talking to them, I get numb. And a squarehead who’s dim, I will not dote on him, For I want a guy smart as they come. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) To disaster is where your affair led, For your actions were brainless, you squarehead. So Mary Jo drowned And you couldn’t get crowned, Although voters for Trump wouldn’t care, Ted. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) circle the wagons In a Western the pioneers say, “We must circle the wagons today.” As they plan their defense, All the viewers are tense -- Will they really survive in this way? -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “The orcs are here! Circle the wagons! We’ll prevail, or my name isn’t Baggins!” Shouted Frodo. “Our thing Is protecting the ring! Our diverse fellowship could slay dragons!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) square-toed His wild oats that guy long ago sowed; Now he’s set in his ways and square-toed. Though his style is passé, He is happy this way, And so what if he’s not á la mode? -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) My family is square-toed, no doubt! They simply won’t let me go out With the new guy -- he’s cute! And he’s wealthy to boot But Republican, therefore a lout! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) To the forest don’t go and a bear goad; Stay indoors in your home, safe and square-toed. In that comfortable bubble, You’ll never have trouble, Unless, that is, you’re in affair mode. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) circumlocution There once was a fellow she dated, Whose circumlocutions she hated. She tended to balk At all of his talk -- What long-winded tales he related! -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Some Senators seek no solution, By engaging in sheer word pollution. They’ll blather and squawk, And there’s no simple talk. They’re the masters of circumlocution. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) With Trump there’s no circumlocution; He says plainly, “I want more pollution! More bombs! More arrests! Deport brown-colored pests! Of my enemies, more prosecution!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) square the circle Despite all your efforts, I fear You can’t square the circle, my dear! You gave it your best; Now quit, I’d suggest -- It just can’t be done, it is clear. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Said Scottie, “I’m sure Captain Kirk’ll Beat the Romulans, squaring the circle! Though we’re dead in the water Like lambs to the slaughter, He’ll never surrender -- like Churchill!” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “We shall never surrender!” said Churchill, “We shall counterattack! Square the circle!” His acts of defiance And Yankee alliance Resulted in Angela Merkel. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “It’s not just your pants, you also have a squarehead, SpongeBob,” noted Sandy Cheeks. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “If you want to get to the town squarehead down Main Street for a few blocks,” the guide told his tour group. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “In our circle the wagons must all be red,” said the leader of Toddlers for Trump. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Loosen up! You’re such a square-toed!” said Mole, Ratty, and Badger to their amphibian friend. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Our discussion of whether to have Joey’s foreskin removed has turned into endless circumlocution,” sighed the baby boy’s parents. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Pi R square” the circle of mathematicians would chant as they entered their conference. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “As Socrates spoke in the public square the circle of his students grew larger and larger,” eulogized Plato. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at
the men he has around him. -Niccolo Machiavelli, political philosopher and
author (3 May 1469-1527)
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