The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows


A compendium of the aches, demons, vibes, joys and urges that roam the wilderness of the psychological interior. The author’s mission is to harpoon, bag and tag wild sorrows, then release them gently back into the subconscious.

Copyright © 2013 John Koenig. All content is original and is intended to be read at night.

JOHN KOENIG is a freelance graphic designer who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. His dictionary has been acclaimed by New York Magazine, Washington Post Express, John Green, Jason Kottke, and the guys from Radiolab.

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reverse shibboleth

n. the practice of answering a cellphone with a generic “Hello?” as if you didn’t already know exactly who was calling—which is a little like the egg requirement that marketers added to early cake mixes in the 1950s, an antiquated extra step that’s only there to reassure you that it’s an authentic homecooked meal, just like grandma used to make.

  1. tiqqun-amen reblogged this from dictionaryofobscuresorrows
  2. thewildinside reblogged this from robotmonastery and added:
    my thinking is when I say hello, I’m making sure the person can even hear me…because sometimes the connection is bad or...
  3. robotmonastery reblogged this from dictionaryofobscuresorrows and added:
    Wow, I never thought about how actually ridiculous it is that I do this.
  4. titzonmars reblogged this from dictionaryofobscuresorrows
  5. lyscapism reblogged this from dictionaryofobscuresorrows and added:
    n. the practice of answering a cellphone with a generic “Hello?” as if you didn’t already know exactly who was...
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