cracker-barrel

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The Word of the Day for September 8 is:

cracker-barrel   \KRAK-er-bair-ul\   adjective 
     : suggestive of the friendly homespun character of a country store 

Example sentence:
     "One thing I like about the South," she said, "is that total strangers 
will often start up cracker-barrel conversations in places like elevators and 
waiting rooms."

Did you know?
     In the days before pre-packaged food and huge supermarkets, a trip to the 
nearest store was more than just an errand; it was also a chance to socialize 
and keep up with goings-on. The country store of yesteryear was the focal point 
of many rural communities, and the heart of the country store was the cracker 
barrel. Literally a barrel containing crackers, the cracker barrel -- which 
afforded a seat for at least one person -- was the spot where folks would 
gather to chat about weather and politics, or to swap stories, jokes, and 
gossip. Today, cracker barrels are largely a thing of the past, but the flavor 
of those friendly exchanges lives on in the adjective "cracker-barrel."





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