Another posting from the linguist Warren Silver: "On a TV series called "The Listener" the supervisor of two detectives issued marching orders by saying, "You may want to shake that tree until it bears some fruit". Good to know that high winds or earthquakes will increase production in fruit orchards.

From our trusty correspondent, Warren Silver: "On tonight's six o'clock news a Boston Celtics coach said about the upcoming play off series, "We have a tough nut to climb". Sounds like a squirrel's delight or a wrestler's nightmare."

A reporter, on hearing that a female executive had hired an over-qualified male second-in-command: "Well, he will be breathing down her throat." I don't think she meant mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or French kissing.

Career coach Katie Kelley on Facebook: "Supper sizing my chardonnay and contemplating what to give up for Lent." She pours 8 ounces for lunch, 12 ounces for supper.

When Bob Gordon did not hear what his wife was trying to telling him, he replied, "Sorry, Dear, I was in a reveille." He was not lost in a reverie; he was just waiting for his wake-up call to conclude.

In a query seeking literary representation, an aspiring novelist wrote, "My book is a stream of conscience." Like Crime and Punishment, we assume.

The mob boss on the television show Gotham: "A  bird in the hand is nine-tenths of the law."