Words: Tochis, n.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.NO APOLOGIES for returning to John Updike's masterly Bech at Bay. Along with The Simpsons script-writers, he has the most astute eye for contemporary America. At one point, Bech is on a disputatious committee of the great and good, and is told, "all you've got to do is preside. Just sit there on your tochis."
Variously spelt, from the Hebrew for "beneath", it has been used this century for buttocks, as in The Premar Experiment (1976) by R.H. Rimmer. He also ghosted the memoirs of Mistress Jacqueline, Whips and Kisses. This suggests the tenor of Mr Rimmer's work, unreviewed by the TLS, but one should not judge hastily. At least one expression therein - "your tuchis is smiling sideways at me" - would not be out of place in Updike.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments