wage
When used as a noun, "wage" is often used in the plural form ("wages") to refer to the money paid to an employee, though it remains singular when referring to a specific rate (e.g., "the minimum wage"). As a verb, "wage" is almost always followed by words like "war," "battle," or "campaign." It is rarely used for other types of activities.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon; Jessica is staring at a spreadsheet while Mr. Sterling is in a sensory deprivation tank.
Jessica
The union's losing it. We need to bump the hourly wage or they'll walk.
Mr. Sterling
Money is just a heavy anchor. Let them float in the void for a bit.
💡
Jessica uses 'losing it' (slang for becoming irrational/angry) and 'walk' (idiom for quitting or going on strike). The tension arises from Jessica's panic over labor costs versus Mr. Sterling's detached, metaphorical worldview.