OCTOBER 2025
“The Rosetta Stone for modern times.” — GRAYDON CARTER
“The Rosetta Stone for modern times.” — GRAYDON CARTER
A MISCELLANY of SECRET LANGUAGES
Across 53 chapters, Schott’ Significa unlocks the language, signs, jargon, and gestures of the invisible subcultures that suffuse our lives.
Why SOMMELIERS love it when an EXTRA BIG BALLER is DROPPING THE HAMMER.
When VENETIAN GONDOLIERS cry
PÒPE or holler ÒE DE LONGO!
The vital significance of WITH, AND, AS, and
& in MOVIE POSTER BILLING BLOCKS.
How CASINOS track DONKS, GRINDERS, GEORGES, MECHANICS, and STROKERS.
What FATHERS CHRISTMAS mean if
they say they are FEEDING THE REINDEER.
How REALITY T.V. uses FRANKENBITES and
WINE SLAPS to create VILLAN EDITS.
è davvero perfetto
italian gesticulations
DISAGREE
OCCUPY WALL STREET
TRIANGLE OF POWER
POLITICAL GESTURES
How SNEAKERHEADS BABY their HEAT GRAILS but ROCK their COZY BEATERS.
Why pro GURGITATORS CHIPMUNK and
KOBI SHAKE to win CHOMPETITIONS.
When SWIFTIES CLOWN, TAYLOR-GATE,
and SLEEP STREAM their AUNT BECKY.
Why TYPOGRAPHERS are so unpleasant
toward WIDOWS, ORPHANS, and RUNTS.
The politics of seating ANNA along the
OUT AND BACK at FASHION WEEK.
Why BARTENDERS hate the SKI TEAM
but love to send out BOOMBERANGS.
The CURIOUS CONVENTIONS of COMIC STRIPS …
The CURIOUS CONVENTIONS
of COMIC STRIPS …
How JUICERS, MEATHEADS, MASCOTS,
and CARDIO QUEENS mix at the local GYM.
Why the PAPARAZZI PING-PONG to trap
celebs into GIVING UP the PEOPLE FRAME.
When GREEN BEANS get to eat the
FORBIDDEN BROWNIE at STARBUCKS.
GRAFFITI’s hierarchy of TAGS, THROWIES, STRAIGHT LETTERS, and PIECES.
How DEGEN CRYPTO MOONBOINS risk
the FIAT MINES by APING into MEMECOINS.
Why ESPIONAGE TALENT SPOTTERS will
fear the DANGLE if welcoming WALK-INS.
“An erudite bag of candy.”
BENJAMIN DRYER — author of Dreyer’s English
“This truly remarkable book is quite unlike
any other work of etymology or entertainment.”
ANDREW ROBERTS — historian
“Each chapter is a dinner party next to a delightfully peculiar guest.”
ANNIE RAUWERDA — founder of Depths of Wikipedia
“Rabbit holes are rarely this satisfying.”
ADAM MOSS — author of The Work of Art
SIGNIFICA
/ sᵻɡˈnɪfᵻkə / noun
That which is overlooked, yet essential;
marginal, yet meaningful; ephemeral, yet enduring.