A number of my karate cronies and I got into an argument recently about a question I’m sure has been bandied about men’s locker rooms for years. Does sex the evening before an athletic competition decrease one’s performance on the field (or in our case, in the ring)? I say this is an old wives’ tale–i.e., wives tell it to avoid yet another round of boring sex. Please vindicate me. My health depends on it. –Tim P., College Park, Maryland
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Depends on what kind of sex you have in mind. If we’re talking a trapeze, roller skates, and a quart bottle of Mazola, I guess I wouldn’t feel too confident about facing off against Bruce Lee at dawn. Routine sex is another matter. The common view among sports medics is that sex is about as taxing as a 40-yard dash and requires about the same recovery time.
Ever since I first experienced it, I’ve been wondering about the expression “head over heels in love.” Most people understand this to mean being flipped out with passion. But if that’s so, shouldn’t it be “heels over head”? “Head over heels” is the way most of us spend at least two-thirds of our lives. The British say “head over ears,” which makes just as little sense. Any insights into the origin and meaning of these idiotic idioms would be appreciated. –Daniel Zellman, Chicago
…amphipodous, apodous, blizzardous, gastropodous, hybridous, iodous, nodous, octapodous, palladous, paludous, pudendous, rhodous, sauropodous, schizopodous, solipedous, splendidous, tetrapodous, voudous … –Philip M. Cohen, White Plains, New York
