From "As they say in Zanzibar"

When two elephants tussle, it's the glass that suffers.
It is the pot that boils, but the dish gets the credit.

circumscribe

1. To draw a line around; encircle.
2. To limit narrowly; restrict.
3. To determine the limits of; define. See synonyms at limit.
4. a. To enclose (a polygon or polyhedron) within a configuration of lines, curves, or surfaces so that every vertex of the enclosed object is incident on the enclosing configuration. b. To erect (such a configuration) around a polygon or polyhedron: circumscribe a circle around a square.

abdicate

To relinquish (power or responsibility) formally.

empathy

1.Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives. See synonyms at pity.
2.The attribution of one's own feelings to an object.

self-fulfilling prophecy

心理学用語で、日本語訳は「自己充足的予言」のようだ。

absolve

1. To pronounce clear of guilt or blame.
2. To relieve of a requirement or an obligation.
3. a. To grant a remission of sin to. b. To pardon or remit (a sin).

abomination

1. Abhorrence; disgust.
2. A cause of abhorrence or disgust.

lumber

1. a. To cut down (trees) and prepare as marketable timber. b. To cut down the timber of.
2. Chiefly British. To clutter with or as if with unused articles.

moniker

A personal name or nickname.

hackney

1. To cause to become banal and trite through overuse.
2. To hire out; let.

shibboleth

1. A word or pronunciation that distinguishes people of one group or class from those of another.
2. a. A word or phrase identified with a particular group or cause; a catchword. b. A commonplace saying or idea.
3. A custom or practice that betrays one as an outsider.

hat in hand

In a humble manner; humbly.

Hat in hand the U.S. Auto Industry lined up for their slice of government aid and it appears as of this posting that they will get the money they are asking for.

misogynist

One who hates women.

by no means

In no sense; certainly not

acatamathesia

Loss of the faculty of understanding.

clean someone's clock

In American English, To clean someone’s clock means to trounce one’s opponents in a game (“We’ll clean the Dodgers’ clocks today”) or generally to inflict a severe reverse (“Republicans got their clocks cleaned in November’s elections”).

corroborate

To strengthen or support with other evidence; make more certain.

Yo-yo quiz

A quiz from the Oct 20, 2008 episode of A Way with Words.
Find a verb making phrasal verbs with the prepositions 'up' and 'down' with given meanings.

Example 1
~ up: to appear
~ down: to reject
Answer: turn

Example 2
~ up: to save all the data on your computer's hard drive just in case
~ down: to retreat, no longer threaten
Answer: back

Q1
up: to withstand
down: to apply yourself to a problem

Q2
up: to be overcome emotionally
down: to suppress

Q3
up: to laugh uncontrollably
down: to become more strict about an issue

Q4
up: to rise from a seated position
down: to boogie-woogie-woogie

Q5
up: a satire or parody
down: to suspend from university (chiefly British English)

Q6
up: to improve usually in a small but perceptible way
down: to land after a flight

Q7
up: to maintain a required pace
down: to prevent from progress through force or intimidation

Q8
up: reverse parasitosis
down: to begin a fight

A1: bear
A2: choke
A3: crack
A4: get
A5: send
A6: touch
A7: keep
A8: throw

Blank the Blank

A puzzle named "Blank the Blank" or "Verb the Noun" was presented on the 2008-10-11 episode of "A Way with Words." Here are the clues and answers:

C1. Tony and Angela have been enemies for years, but they finally decided to Blank the Blank.

C2. Tony and Angela have been close friends for years, they finally decided to Blank the Blank.

C3. Tony said "I don't believe I cheated on you, Angela. Therefor I didn't cheat on you." But he's just Blank the Blank.

C4. If you thought cheating Angela was bad, Tony has also been Blank the Blank in his job as an accountant.

C5. After the way he cheated her, I can't say I'm surprised at Angela would Blank the Blank to the Feds.

C6. Wow, in a fair indictment there's no way for tony to run now, he's just gonna have to Blank the Blank.

C7. Wow, it really stinks in here. Hey Tony, did you Blank the Blank?

C8. I think the whole show is finally running out of ideas and adding dumb plot elements. They've really Blank the Blank.

C9. Let's turn off the TV, call a few friends and have them come over, play the naughty game Blank the Blank.

A1. bury the hatchet
A2. tie the knot OR jump the broom
A3. begging the question
A4. cooking the books
A5. spill the beans
A6. face the music
A7. cut the cheese
A8. jumped the shark
A9. spin the bottle

circuitous

Being or taking a roundabout, lengthy course. See synonyms at indirect.
Buying mortgage related securities from banks is a very circuitous way to solve the problem.