Safe words: a rant.

A new clause is being written into the contracts of some Hollywood actresses.

If an actress's role involves a scene of intimacy then 'safe words' are now available to bring a halt to the proceedings if some other person in the scene is beginning to get over-excited.

Examples of such words are, apparently, pineapple, sweet potato or mayonnaise.

Now, they say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and if that is in fact the case then these words would be unlikely to cool his ardour. But the principle of using a word that'll shine a bit of daylight into a steamy situation is sound enough.

There must be better ones than mayonnaise, though.

How about bubonic plague? 

Or Income Tax Return?

Or, better still, it might be a good idea, if you want legal force and clarity, to stick with the simple word stop.

Word To Use Today: intimacy. In Roman times an intimus was a very close friend,. The word comes from intus, which means within.