1111. This week, we look at the phrase "near miss" and why this seemingly illogical term actually makes sense. Then, in honor of National Dog Day, we look at how 16 different dog breeds got their names, including why a dachshund is a "badger dog," a poodle is a "puddle dog," and a mastiff is a "tame dog."

The "near miss" segment was by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and who runs a forensic linguistics consulting firm. You can find her on LinkedIn.

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Why we say 'near miss.' How dogs got their names. Stupid dog Jackie.

Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.

Why we say 'near miss.' How dogs got their names. Stupid dog Jackie.