The following paragraph is from Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac for Monday, January 28, 2019:
It was on this day in 1754 that the word “serendipity” was first coined.
It’s defined by Merriam-Webster as “the faculty or phenomenon of finding
valuable or agreeable things not sought for.” It was recently listed by
a U.K. translation company as one of the English language’s 10 most
difficult words to translate. Other words to make their list include
plenipotentiary, gobbledegook, poppycock, whimsy, spam, and kitsch.
Actually, they are pretty easy:
1. Serendipity: A song sung full of pity.
2. Plenipotentiary: A Trump fat diplomat who belongs in a penitentiary.
3. Gobbledegook: A Thanksgiving turkey that was severely over cooked.
4. Poppycock: An arrogant rooster; an arrogant jock.
5. Whimsy: A sudden inexplicable urge to go to sea.
6. Spam: Spitting out a “gooky” piece of ham. See definition of goobledegook for gooky.
7. Kitsch: A small kitchen that is garish.
Botta bing, botta bang, botta boom.