"Edison, Schmedison"

       The Sunday L.A. Times was noting TV shows it thought would be worth watching this week.  One program blurb read this way:


       "Edison, schmedison.  The genius of inventor Nikola Tesla is celebrated on 'American Experience'.  Tuesday, 9p.m., KOCE"


       Another Yiddishism makes its way into American parlance.  Disparaging, belittling, pooh-poohing something or someone by adding a "sch" or "schm" to the front of the word.

       "Euphony" sometimes dictates (permits?) removing the front of the original word as well.  So you might say "Trump, schmump" or, alternatively, "Hillary, schmillary."

       No one seems to know exactly where demeaning things or persons by "schmooning" them came from.  One thinks Trump might enjoy making use of the idiom, but then it often has a jocular, light hearted tone to it.  So it might not be within his range.