Thing To Do Today: rib someone.

Usually nowadays ribbing involves alternating plain and purl knitting stitches in such a way as to make a surface like a ploughed field (or, indeed, ribs).


The lower section of this cap is ribbed. It was knitted by Tom Boyle, a New Zealander in Word War Two, to be worn under a military helmet. He knitted one for every man in his unit.

That sort of ribbing is to be found on the cuffs of most knitted garments.

But what if you can't knit?

Well, then there's the newer meaning of rib, which means to tease, usually in a good-natured way not intended to cause hurt. 

It's not always easy, but teasing someone about something you genuinely admire about them is probably the way to go.

Here comes the walking dictionary!

Your knowledge of fashion is non-existent, but we'll be all right if we suddenly need a general theory of the universe.

I don't know what all those traffic policemen see in you.

I suppose the essential thing is to find someone you love before you start.

Thing To Do Today: rib someone. The teasing word is twentieth century, short for rib-tickle. The anatomical word comes from the Old English ribb, and is related to the Old Norse rif, which means reef.