Word: toning
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1980-1989
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Dukakis' TV reviews have jumped around in approximate relationship to the polls. Early on he was derided as an untelegenic bore. After Atlanta, his TVQ soared. Now a backlash is setting in ("His tone is at once annoyed and complacent, that of a self-satisfied scold" -- George Will). In truth, Dukakis may be close to the ideal TV candidate: physically ungainly and ill- proportioned when seen from a distance but a compelling presence in close- up. His speaking style is a good blend of the conversational and the resonant, and he makes the canniest use of pauses since Jack Benny...
...erratic mentally and took drugs) to disguise the real intent of the novel's rather soapy second half: to find a nice, sexy, feminist man for Polly. Why is this soapy? Because the author misplaces the fine edge of irony with which she described the lesbian Jeanne. Her tone becomes ever so slightly earnest. And earnest, in the writing of social comedy, is what it is very important...
Caller-paid services like Surfline are increasing faster than a Valley Girl's phone bill. The number of such hot lines operating in the U.S. has doubled in the past year, to 3,800, offering a growing Touch-Tone emporium of services ranging from the practical to the kinky. Customers can call for soap- opera updates, used-car prices, stock quotes, sex fantasies or rock-concert schedules. Prices run from as little as 50 cents a call to nearly $5 for the first minute. Total revenues are expected to reach $450 million this year, up 50% from 1987. While...
...call the 976-FISH line to find out what's biting. Superstitious residents of New York City can ring up the 976-TARO (short for tarot) to hear their fortunes, while nonsmokers can call 540- LUNG to find out about the latest tobacco-industry liability cases. Customers with Touch-Tone phones can program a wake-up service in which the customer will be greeted by a sultry recorded voice ("Time to wake up, tiger...
...friendly tone of election night was markedly different from the campaign, when Travaglini and LoPresti waged a bitter campaign to win progressive votes. The race got underway this summer when lesbian activist Marguerite Gerstell dropped out of the race, because LoPresti received the endorsement of the Greater Boston Lesbian and Gay Political Alliance...