Smack Dab - 24 February 2025

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

#Society #English #Grammar #Language #Lexicon #Slang #Linguistics #Language Learning #Publicradio #Word #Podcasting Education #Way With Words #ESL #NPR #TESOL #TOEFL

13:44

Legendary actor and mental health advocate Glenn Close is on a quest to change how we think about mental health, starting with her decision to speak out about her own family's struggles — a brave choice considering the stigma that pervades the topic. This week, we're revisiting this sweeping conversation with TEDWomen curator Pat Mitchell, where Close shares the inspiration behind the advocacy group she founded to combat the crisis, underscoring the transformative power of community and the critical need for comprehensive mental health care systems. Want to help shape TED’s shows going forward? Fill out our survey ! Become a TED Member today at ted.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

about a year ago 53:45

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A flashlight emits a steady beam of light. So what’s the flash part of that word about? Also, if you’re a nervous Nellie, you’re skittish and indecisive—both characteristics of an American politician who earned that nickname in the 1920s. And, rhinestone: The name of this sparkly fake gem has a history that involves a famous river in Europe. Plus, the many names for toilet paper rolls and the sounds you can make with them, pull a seam, a puzzle all about the word it, a blessing and a curse, hitten vs. hit, idea vs. ideal, shaving yak hair vs. shaving gnat hair, daylo, knocking something galley-west, the evolving meaning of dab, and the role of cultural context in learning languages. All of which you should listen to right smack now!

Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact. Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation.

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770 episodes

Smack Dab - 24 February 2025

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

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published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

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770 episodes

#Society #English #Grammar #Language #Lexicon #Slang #Linguistics #Language Learning #Publicradio #Word #Podcasting Education #Way With Words #ESL #NPR #TESOL #TOEFL

All episodes

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Not My Circus (Rebroadcast) - 9 June 2025 53:45

6 hours ago53:45

53:45

Throwing cheese and shaky cheese are two very different things. In baseball, hard cheese refers to a powerful fastball, and probably comes from a similar-sounding word in Farsi, Urdu, and Hindi. Shaky cheese, on the other hand, is a slang term for Parmesan cheese, which many of us grew up shaking out of a can. Also, why is a movie preview called a trailer when it comes at the beginning of a film, not the end? And: if you want to say that something's not your responsibility, there's always the handy phrase Not my circus, not my monkey. Plus, cocktail party effect, all my put-togethers, bedroom suite vs. bedroom suit, Alles im Butter, pes anserinus, fastuous, bursa, bummer, and too much sand for my little truck. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
The Other Shoe - 2 June 2025 53:45

7 days ago53:45

53:45

So you think you can spell? Youngsters in modern spelling bees are expected to memorize a wide range of words, from chemical processes to names of rare animals. Also: In many languages, the word for “mother” begins with the letter M — but not in all of them. And where are you from, eh? If you phrase a question that way, it’s pretty clear where you’re from. Plus, saltigrade and tardigrade , bite the dust and buy the farm , Hoofddorp , a family euphemism, pilkunviilaaja , a letter-lopping brain teaser, sacar la garra , and a whole lot more. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Scooter Pooting (Rebroadcast) - 26 May 2025 53:45

14 days ago53:45

53:45

Old. Elderly. Senior. Why are we so uncomfortable when we talk about reaching a certain point in life? An 82-year-old seeks a more positive term to describe how she feels about her age. And: a linguist helps solve a famous kidnapping case, using the vocabulary and spelling in a ransom note. Plus, old library books often contain inscriptions and other notes scribbled in the margins. A new book details an effort to reveal and preserve this "shadow archive" of the relationship between readers and the books they love. Plus, bus bunching, devil strip, fiddlesticks, scooter pooping vs. scooter-tooting, too clever by half, knucklehead, passenger, along with bet and bet bet and bet bet bet. We're not selling wolf tickets! Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Bean Counting - 19 May 2025 53:45

21 days ago53:45

53:45

In the 1920’s, Americans were warned of a new danger sweeping across the country. This menace that harmed people’s health, ruined minds, and threatened marriages. The culprit? The national obsession with a new form of entertainment: crossword puzzles. Plus: why are accountants referred to as bean counters ? And an old-fashioned way to describe a noisy, new restaurant: You can’t hear your ears in this place! Also, alcoholic , vacuum vs. sweeper , swarping and sworping , hove and heave , a quiz about funny surnames, objet trouvé , Wunderkammer , a punny school mascot, and debubiate . Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Gold Dance (Rebroadcast) - 12 May 20256 53:45

28 days ago53:45

53:45

People who hunt treasure with metal detectors have a lingo all their own. Canslaw means the shreds of aluminum cans left after a lawnmower ran over them. And gold dance? That's what you do if you turn up something far more valuable than parts of an old beer can. Plus, a splendid new dictionary offers an in-depth look at the rich language of Southern Appalachia, from parts of West Virginia to Georgia. And why do television announcers greet viewers with the phrase "Welcome back" after a commercial break? Weren't they the ones who went away? Plus, coinball, bacon bats, Katzensprung, quote unquote vs. quote end quote, a quiz about synonyms, joke tags, dials and smiles, low sick, took a dump, and Get out of my bathtub! Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Honor Bright - 5 May 2025 53:45

5 weeks ago53:45

53:45

A baby’s first word is often a cherished milestone, but some cultures pay more attention to other firsts, like a baby’s first laugh. A fascinating new book by a linguist examines language at the beginning and the end of life. Plus, the expression Murphy’s Law reflects the idea that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” But is the term a slur against the Irish? And an old word for new life: the verb to whicken involves daylight hours growing longer in springtime. Also, breard , honor bright and honour bright , the long history of groceries , a brain teaser about pig Latin , sea painter , give someone down the road , give someone down the banks , a different way to write AI , plurale tantem , how to pronounce rhetoric , and lots more. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
By a Long Shot (Rebroadcast) - 28 April 2025 53:45

6 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Imagine telling someone how to get to your home, but without using the name of your street, or any other street within ten miles. Could you do it? We take street names for granted, but these words are useful for far more, like applying for a job or bank loan — and they’re a powerful record of who and what we value. Plus, a third-grader asks why the first episode of a TV series is often called a “pilot.” And: the story of the word “dashboard,” from muddy roads to computer screens. All that, plus nanomoon , not by a long shot vs. not by a long chalk , layovers to catch meddlers , proc , don’t buy the hype , do it for the hywl , and a cheesy quiz flecked with puns, and more. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Real Corker - 21 April 2025 53:45

7 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Samantha Harvey’s novel Orbital is a sensuous, exhilarating meditation about the strangeness of life on a space station, with its mix of tedious tasks and jaw-dropping views. And: a musician who rode the rails in his youth shares the slang he picked up along the way. For example, the word spanging is a blend of the words spare and changing , and means “panhandling.” Plus, what does the doggie say? The sound of a dog barking is often written as bow wow . But why? Doesn’t barking sound more like ruff ruff ? Plus, slang on the ski slopes, boodling , a jazzy pangram, larruping good food, avoir le moral dans les chaussettes , a quiz about puzzling store names, ride or die , a clever answer for when someone inquires as to how you’re doing, and lots more. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
When Pigs Fly (Rebroadcast) - 14 April 2025 53:45

8 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Don’t move my cheese! It’s a phrase middle managers use to talk about adapting to change in the workplace. Plus, the origin story of the name William , and why it’s Guillermo in Spanish. And a five-year-old poses a question that puzzles a lot of people: Why is the letter Q so often followed by a U ? All that, and adynaton , an assonant quiz, do it up brown , salt of the earth , haven’t grown gills yet , wooling , a silly joke about the number one, a poem about regret, and hide-and-seek calls, such as Ole Ole Olson all in free! Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Cool Beans (Rebroadcast) - 7 April 2025 53:45

9 weeks ago53:45

53:45

If you speak a second or third language, you may remember the first time you dreamed in that new tongue. But does this milestone mean you’re actually fluent? And a couple’s dispute over the word regret : Say you wish you’d been able to meet Albert Einstein. Can you regret that the two of you never met, or is there a better word for a situation over which you have no control? Can the word regret include simply longing for something? Plus, a sixth-grader wonders about a weird word on her spelling bee study list. It’s spelled X-Y-L-Y-L — and it’s not just for Scrabble players. Plus, hot as flugens , to play Box and Cox , twack and twoc , a quiz for canine lovers, an eloquent appreciation of libraries, a widow’s moving thank-you note, a punny gardening joke, a funny newspaper correction, a trick with a hole in it , and lots more. Cool beans! Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
A Cool Million - 31 March 2025 53:45

10 weeks ago53:45

53:45

So many books and so little time—it’s a challenge to choose what to read next! It helps to remember that so-called “reading mortality” is a fact of life—you’ll never get to them all, but you can curate your own to-read list that speaks to you. Plus, the sneaky story behind the expression slip someone a mickey , and a new word for walking your dog: let’s go on a sniffari ! And: favorite first lines of books, Bohemian , a brain teaser about song titles, how to pronounce aioli , jo-jo potatoes , a cool million , and lots more. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Love Bites (Rebroadcast) - 24 March 2025 53:45

11 weeks ago53:45

53:45

The word filibuster has a long and colorful history, going back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas. Today it refers to hijacking a piece of legislation. Plus, the language of yoga teachers: When doing a guided meditation, you may hear your instructor speaking in a kind of continuous present, with phrases like Sitting comfortably and Breathing deeply instead of the simple imperatives to Sit comfortably and Breathe deeply. These are participles with a purpose, and linguists have a term for it: the politeness progressive. Finally, why CAN'T you have your cake and eat it, too? Also: Book it!, the language of falconry, acronames, how to pronounce brooch, broach the subject, at loggerheads, a brain-teasing game for science fans and another one for gardeners, and the many meanings of hickey. And hey, Don't go visiting with one arm as long as the other! Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Wicked Good - 17 March 2025 53:45

12 weeks ago53:45

53:45

To grok something means “to understand it completely.” The word grok comes from a language spoken on the planet Mars—well, at least according to the science fiction writer who coined the term! Also, we know the meaning of the word trauma , but is there a word that denotes “the opposite of trauma”? Plus, if someone describes something as “wicked good,” they mean it’s extremely good, especially if they’re from New England. All that, plus cut to the chase , more super-short town names, a puzzle that involves lopping off letters, an Ethiopian proverb, hell strip vs. devil strip , words from the Norn language, corny , and more. This wicked good show’s as cool as 4-55 air conditioning ! Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Lasagna Hog (Rebroadcast) - 10 March 2025 53:45

13 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Understanding the varieties of conversational styles can mean the difference between feeling you’re understood and being insulted. “High-involvement” speakers interrupt or talk along with someone else to signal their enthusiasm, while “high-considerateness” speakers tend more toward thoughtful pauses and polite turn-taking. Adjusting your speaking style accordingly may improve not only your communication, but also your relationships. Plus, when you read a text message from someone, does it seem weird if they use ellipses? And: a delightful new documentary about the World Palindrome Championships will leave you with just one palindromic thought: Wow! Also, boo-boo and boo-hoo , prune and plum , grass widow and widows weeds , a rig and a half , barefoot tea , funny names for birds, a puzzle for movie lovers, and more. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org . Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443 . Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Kiss the Cow (Rebroadcast) - 3 March 2025 53:45

14 weeks ago53:45

53:45

An anadrome is a word that forms a whole new word when you spell it backwards. For example, the word “stressed” spelled backwards is “desserts.” Some people’s first names are anadromes. There’s the girl named Noel in honor of her father Leon , and the woman named Edna who adopted the name Ande . Speaking of names, know anybody whose occupation fits their name? Maybe a college administrator named Dean , or a breadmaker named Baker ? Well, there’s a name for that concept: nominative determinism . Plus, a conversation about how hard it can be to gracefully end… a conversation. Also: a puzzle about famous names, Wellerisms, kaffedags and fika , a kissing game, moco , greissel , twacking , the plural of computer mouse , and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Smack Dab - 24 February 2025 53:45

15 weeks ago53:45

53:45

A flashlight emits a steady beam of light. So what’s the flash part of that word about? Also, if you’re a nervous Nellie , you’re skittish and indecisive—both characteristics of an American politician who earned that nickname in the 1920s. And, rhinestone : The name of this sparkly fake gem has a history that involves a famous river in Europe. Plus, the many names for toilet paper rolls and the sounds you can make with them, pull a seam , a puzzle all about the word it , a blessing and a curse, hitten vs. hit , idea vs. ideal , shaving yak hair vs. shaving gnat hair , daylo , knocking something galley-west , the evolving meaning of dab , and the role of cultural context in learning languages. All of which you should listen to right smack now ! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Lead on Macduff (Rebroadcast) - 17 February 2025 53:45

16 weeks ago53:45

53:45

For rock climbers, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, the word send has taken on a whole new meaning. You might cheer on a fellow snowboarder with Send it, bro! — and being sendy is a really great thing. Plus: a nostalgic trip to Willa Cather’s’ Nebraska home inspires a reading from one of her classic books about life on the American prairie. And what do they call a sudden, heavy rain where you live? A gully-washer ? A frog-strangler ? Or maybe even a bridge-lifter ? All that, and the flowery language of seed catalogs, rank and file , cut me a husk , I am sat down vs. I am sitting down , Lead on, MacDuff! vs. Lay on, MacDuff! , a hematological puzzle, and a popular Spanish-language refrain about an extremely long goodbye. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Holy Toledo - 10 February 2025 53:45

17 weeks ago53:45

53:45

In 1944, an Italian scientist discovered a drug that he later named for his wife. His wife’s name was Marguerite, but she went by Rita — which is why this now familiar drug is known as Ritalin . Plus, a poem about churning butter shows how a writer can draw astonishing beauty out of the most everyday of tasks. And the exclamation holy Toledo! probably refers to a city thousands of miles from the one in Ohio. Also: anapodoton , white sepulchre , why various languages have different words for with , a heart-healthy quiz, naming litters of puppies, no siree Bob! , nuthouse and nutty , deadpool and death pool , coagulated sunlight , and I feel like I’m going to hell on a scholarship . Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Tribble Trouble (Rebroadcast) - 3 February 2025 53:45

18 weeks ago53:45

53:45

In Cockney rhyming slang, apples and pears is a synonym for "stairs," and dustbin lids means kids. Plus, sniglets are clever coinages for things we don't already have words for. Any guesses what incogsneeto means? It's the act of trying to hide your sneeze while wearing a face mask. Also, how the vocabulary of science fiction influences our everyday conversation, from the tribble on your hat to vaccine development at warp speed! Plus unkempt vs. unkept, erase vs. delete, tribbles vs. pompoms, placid, meuf, a cryptic quiz, a tasty pangram, Barney for "trouble," earthborn, apple-dancing, dirtsider, one hand washes the other and both hands wash the face, and You must be holding your mouth wrong! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Ring-Tailed Tooter (Rebroadcast) - 27 January 2025 53:45

19 weeks ago53:45

53:45

National Book Award winner Barry Lopez had wise advice for young writers. First, read widely and follow your curiosity. Second, travel or learn a foreign language. And third, find out what you truly believe, because if you’re not writing from your beliefs, then you’re just passing along information. And: if someone says they’re going to plant flags at a gravesite, they may not mean what you think. That’s because the word flag is also the name for a certain flower. Plus, if helicopter parents hover protectively around their kids … what do golf parents do? All that, along with in a brown study , pitcher-proud , ring-tailed ripsnorter , gleepers , clackers, a brain-busting take-off puzzle, thing like that and all , and there are no bones in ice cream . Ye gods and little fishes! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Potato Wagon - 20 January 2025 53:45

20 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Thunderstorms might sound scary, but playful explanations for all those booms can help reassure little ones: How about the potato wagon’s rolling over the bridge ? Or the angels are going bowling ? Plus, if you just finished enjoying an audiobook, you might say you’ve read it, but a listener asks if there’s a better word. And: towns with names that are three letters long — or less. They’re fun to say, and super easy to spell! The town of Eek , Alaska, for example. Plus, the use of humming to mean “stinking,” slashfic and shipping , woodshedding , ratcatcher , bib and tucker , a memoir that features recipes handed down through a Black Appalachian family, a “buzzling” puzzle or a puzzling “buzzle,” I had one of those, but the wheels came off , and lots more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
What the Blazes (Rebroadcast) - 13 January 2025 53:45

21 weeks ago53:45

53:45

What kind of book do people ask for most often in prison? Romance novels? No. The Bible? No. The most requested books by far are … dictionaries! A number of volunteer organizations gather and distribute used dictionaries to help inmates with reading, writing, and schoolwork. Plus: For some low-tech family fun, how about egg-tapping? Traditionally played after on Easter, the game involves smacking a hard-boiled egg against an opponent’s. The person who ends up with an uncracked egg wins. And: Just how common is it to give a goofy name to a household appliance? Even your garbage disposal might get a moniker! Also, chelidon , knock the stink off , pony keg , pineapple posture , sprunny , wash-ashores , trailblazer , a punny puzzle about song titles, a Norwegian idiom that means “empty-headed,” a bagpipe serenade, and more. Dinna fash! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Mudlarking (Rebroadcast) - 6 January 2025 53:45

22 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Twice a day the River Thames recedes, revealing a muddy shoreline. Hobbyists known as mudlarks stroll the surface searching for objects that have found their way into the river over the centuries, everything from ancient Roman jewelry to modern wedding rings. A new book about mudlarking describes the irresistible appeal of searching for treasures and the stories behind them. Also, why do performers whisper the phrase toi, toi, toi to wish each other well backstage before a show? And, what’s the plural of octopus ? Octopuses ? Octopi ? Something else? Plus, schniddles vs. schnibbles , visiting vs. talking , fotched a heave , creature comforts , trade-last , a timely pangram, Doves Type , a brain teaser about malapropisms, and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Snaggletooth (Rebroadcast) - 30 December 2024 53:45

23 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Many of us struggled with the Old English poem “Beowulf” in high school. But what if you could actually hear “Beowulf” in the English of today? There’s a new translation by Maria Dahvana Headley that uses contemporary language and even internet slang to create a fresh take on this centuries-old poem — right down to addressing the reader as Bro! Also, what’s a word for feeling desperately lonely, but also comfortable in your solitude? And: the story of the word nickname . Plus laundry list , snaggletooth, breakfast, desayuno , circus lingo, gaffle , a search-engine brain teaser, hogo , logomachy , Waldeinsamkeit , and a book about book burning that’s bound in asbestos! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Honkus Bonkus - 23 December 2024 53:45

24 weeks ago53:45

53:45

The phrase old as Methuselah describes someone quite advanced in years. In ancient scripture, Methuselah was a man who somehow lived to the ripe old age of 969. Plus, a heartwarming book for children tells the story of how a Puerto Rican family adapted their traditions to fit their new life in the Midwest. And if you say this ain’t my first rodeo , it simply means you’ve seen it all before. Plus, barn find , scrumbunctious , neamhchinnte , got melon , a three-way puzzle, Old Edderd sayings, a childhood misunderstanding, your mother wears Army boots! and lots more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Like a Boiled Owl (Rebroadcast) - 16 December 2024 53:45

25 weeks ago53:45

53:45

What’s it like to hike the Pacific Crest Trail all the way from Mexico to Canada? You’ll end up with sore muscles and blisters, and great stories to tell. Along the way, you’ll also pick up some slang, like NoBo , SoBo , Yo-yo and Hike Naked Day , an annual event that’s pretty much what it sounds like. Plus, which came first, the color orange or the fruit? And if you have a pain in the pinny , what part of your body hurts? Also, a brain-busting puzzle, qualtaagh , media naranja , tougher than a boiled owl , zero day , nero day , trail names, how to pronounce caramel , not a Scooby Doo , a cloud of whale dust, and lots more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Price of Tea - 9 December 2024 53:45

26 weeks ago53:45

53:45

The words cushy , cheeky , and non-starter all began as Britishisms, then hopped across the pond to the United States. A new book examines what happens when British words and phrases migrate into American English. Also, if you speak a language besides English, how should you pronounce words and names from that language when you’re currently speaking in English? And: in the 13th century, the verb to kench meant “to laugh loudly.” Just saying it out loud is fun. So why not revive it? Plus: smarmy , devil strip , whifflement , katish , school butter , spider web vs. cobweb , aught vs. zero vs. 0 , on the season , and earrings for an elephant . This episode ate and left no crumbs. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Your Two Cents (Rebroadcast) - 2 December 2024 53:45

27 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Astronauts returning from space say they experience what’s called the overview effect , a new understanding of the fragility of our planet and our need to reflect on what humans all share as a species. A book about the end of the universe offers a similar change in perspective — along with some fascinating language. Plus, different names for a delicious drink: one part lemonade, one part sweet tea. A famous golfer loved it. And why do we say that’s my two cents after offering an opinion? Would it be better to say that’s my one cent ? Also, GUTs vs. TOEs , how to pronounce buoy , pore over vs. pour over , wally , a surprising pronunciation of prestige , piker , is all, a brain-teaser about orphan syllables, and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Space Frogs - 25 November 2024 53:45

28 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Scientists have named some recently discovered species of tree frogs after characters from Star Trek. Why? Because of the boops and trills and other sounds that these frogs make. And: naming your children with the virtues you hope they’ll develop as adults, like Patience and Hope . But in Puritan and Quaker tradition, so-called virtue names were often far more elaborate. Plus, the phrase fight the good fight may seem modern, but it goes all the way back to biblical times. Also: meteoric ris e, One side or a leg off! , polyptoton , a hugger-mugger of a puzzle, main strength and stupidity , pronouncing sixth as “sikth,” omadhaun , the marvel of lachryphagy , and walking in tall cotton . Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Sock it to Me (Rebroadcast) - 18 November 2024 53:45

29 weeks ago53:45

53:45

In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter doesn’t pour the pine ,” an outfielder may snag a can of corn , or “an easily caught fly ball.” And the 1960s TV show “Laugh-In” spawned lots of catchphrases, such as Sock it to me and You bet your sweet bippy . Don’t know them? Well, Look that up in your Funk & Wagnalls! Plus tiffin , worldcraft , cultellation , backslash vs. forward slash , come-heres , bi-weekly , a witty word game that’s much ado about nothing, and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Cut the Mustard - 11 November 2024 53:45

30 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Do people who work together sound alike? Yes! Over time, they may begin to develop similar patterns of speech, or what might be called an “occupational accent” that helps them communicate efficiently. Also, lots of familiar words in English got their start not in the languages of Europe, but in Asia — words including bungalow , ketchup , and avatar . And: what’s that snowbird on the basketball court? All that, plus an Olympic-style word game, Buxtehude , the many ways to pronounce onion , cut the mustard vs. pass muster , Der Bus hält an jeder Milchkanne , how pet names evolve, a punny joke about being addicted to seaweed, and why you might say someone who’s clueless is bored, punched, drilled, or countersunk , and lots more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Good Vibrations (Rebroadcast) - 4 November 2024 53:45

31 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Asthenosphere , a geologist’s term for the molten layer beneath the earth’s crust, sparks a journey that stretches all the way from ancient Greece to the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin . Plus: What the heck is a dogberg ? It’s when a dog runs into you and knocks you over. This bit of slang was inspired by a professional wrestler who finished off his opponents in a similar fashion. And, if you’re vibing with someone, you’re getting along just great. The idea of vibing goes way back in history, and is well worth the effort to suss out . All that, pretty eggs , Rhode Island dressing , how to pronounce biopic , multiple modals, Mr. Can vs. Mr. Can’t , jawn , moded , a brain teaser for movie lovers, and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Kitten Britches - 28 October 2024 53:45

32 weeks ago53:45

53:45

How and why do words from one language find their way into another? Vietnamese, for instance, includes lots of words borrowed or adapted from French. Such linguistic mixing often happens when languages brush up against each other and speakers reach for a word that feels more useful. Plus: “unparalleled misalignments” are pairs of phrases in which the words in one phrase are synonyms of words in the other, but the phrases themselves mean different things. Here’s an example: blanket statement and . . . cover story . Also, fulguration , dehisce , remote control vs. clicker , why we call a great speech a stemwinder , husky , upscuddle , a take-off quiz, advice for observing while traveling, and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Mystery Drawer (Rebroadcast) - 21 October 2024 53:45

33 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Amid court-ordered busing in the 1970s, a middle-school teacher tried to distract her nervous students on the first day of class with this strange assignment: find a monarch caterpillar. The result? A memorable lesson in the miracle of metamorphosis . Plus, the story behind the slang interjection word! , meaning “believe me!” The original version involved the idea that a person’s word was their bond. And the expression empty wagons make the most noise suggests that the person who boasts the loudest may actually be the least knowledgeable. It’s a phrase that’s had many versions over the centuries — including one that goes all the way back to ancient Rome! All that, and nebby , beat-feeting , red-headed stepchild , corotole , undermine , fankle , a wacky puzzle about Greek names, and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Deviled Eggs (Rebroadcast) - 14 October 2024 53:45

34 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Some TV commercials launch catchphrases that stick around long after the original ads. The exclamation Good stuff, Maynard! is still a compliment almost 40 years after it was used in a commercial for Malt-O-Meal hot cereal. And: what do you call that room where the whole family gathers? The family room ? The den ? The TV room ? Names for that part of a home go in and out of fashion. Also, if you’re suffering from writer’s block, try going easy on yourself for a while. Sometimes a writer’s imagination needs to lie fallow in order to become fertile again. Plus, a trivia test about domain names, criminently and other minced oaths, pure-D vs. pure-T , deviled eggs vs. dressed eggs , pixelated vs. pixilated , how to pronounce aegis , and I got the Motts! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Navel-Gazing (Rebroadcast) - 7 October 2024 53:45

35 weeks ago53:45

53:45

In 1971, when a new public library opened in Troy, Michigan, famous authors and artists were invited to write letters to the city’s youngest readers, extolling the many benefits of libraries. One of the loveliest was from E.B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web . Plus, you may think navel-gazing is a relatively new idea — but it goes back at least to the 14th century, when meditating monks really did look like they were studying their bellies! Also, why don’t actors in movies say goodbye at the end of a phone conversation? For that matter, why don’t some people answer their smartphones with “Hello”? Plus, a poetic puzzle, duke’s mixture , small as the little end of nothing , Chesapeake Bay crabbing lingo, omphaloskepsis , nightingale , light a shuck , bumpity-scrapples , the big mahoff , and if a bullfrog had wings, he wouldn’t bump his butt . Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Midnight Oil - 30 September 2024 53:45

36 weeks ago53:45

53:45

What exactly is a planet? Controversy over this question led to Pluto’s redefinition, along with a brand-new English word. And: Some people now use the phrase all the things! to mean and whatnot or you know what I mean. This new sense of all the things comes from a hilarious cartoon in which someone approaches daily tasks with exceptional vigor. Speaking of which, if you’re working hard and burning the midnight oil , what kind of oil are you burning, anyway? Plus curfew , shoo it away! , a kibitzing quiz, Irish wristwatch , quemar las pestañas , the Hawk that’s a cold wind, hot as brinjer , virar a noite , and sigma male . Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Yak Shaving (Rebroadcast) - 23 September 2024 53:45

37 weeks ago53:45

53:45

There was a time when William Shakespeare was just another little seven-year-old in school. Classes in his day were demanding — and all in Latin. A new book argues that this rigorous curriculum actually nurtured the creativity that later flourished in Shakespeare’s writing. Plus, why do we refer to an unpredictable person as a loose cannon? The answer lies in the terrifying potential of a large weapon aboard a warship. And when a delivery driver’s wife teases him about cavorting with strumpets, he asks: What exactly is a strumpet? All that, plus picayune , sit on a tack , the many meanings of fell , a Spanish idiom about oysters and boredom, pickthank , a puzzle about rhyming words, a terrifying passage from Victor Hugo, tacos called mariachis , the juice was worth the squeeze , and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Easy as Pie - 16 September 2024 53:45

38 weeks ago53:45

53:45

How hot is it? Well, poet Dylan Thomas found lots of memorable ways to describe a heat wave. In one letter to a friend, he wrote that it was so hot “My brains are hanging out like a dog’s tongue.” And: pestering country music stars for selfies is a big no-no in Nashville. In fact, the locals even have a word for it. Also, why do we say something’s easy as pie? After all, baking a pie is a whole lot of work! Plus, nunatak , dwadle , Zaunkönig , a Greek-inspired brain teaser, icing vs. frosting vs. filling , gherm , behead vs. decapitate , manavalins , and more! Have a dingle day ! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Cabin Fever (Rebroadcast) - 9 September 2024 53:45

39 weeks ago53:45

53:45

The adjectives canine and feline refer to dogs and cats. But how does English address other groups of animals? Plus, cabin fever has been around much longer than the current pandemic. That restless, antsy, stir-crazy feeling goes back to the days when you could find yourself literally cooped up all winter in a cabin on the wild frontier. And, in Hungarian, there’s a whole genre of silly jokes that involve a character called the aggressive piglet, with a punchline screamed in your most obnoxious voice. What did the aggressive piglet say when he fell into a well? Listen in for that answer, a brain teaser about names hidden inside phrases, and questions and answers about apple box , lie bump , possum vs. opossum , flat as a flitter vs. flat as a flivver , vespertilian , asinine, how to pronounce tinnitus , and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Toad in the Hole - 2 September 2024 53:45

40 weeks ago53:45

53:45

An ambitious effort to install poetry in national parks around the United States features the work of beloved poets in beautiful spots. It’s a reminder that “Nature is not a place to visit. Nature is who we are.” Also, Google Translate has expanded its offerings with 110 more languages. And: what’s an oatsmobile ? Hint: it has four legs. Plus, bushwhack , POSSLQ , disappoint , an anagrammatic puzzle, King Kong vs. Godzilla , scudding , ary , eustress , chuck a sickie , toad-in-the-hole , and how to pronounce route . Be there or be square! Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Singing Sand (Rebroadcast) - 26 August 2024 53:45

41 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Cat hair may be something you brush off, but cat hair is also a slang term that means “money.” In the same way, cat beer isn’t alcoholic — some people use cat beer as a joking term for “milk.” And imagine walking on a beach with a long stretch of shoreline. With each step, the ground makes a squeaking sound under your feet. There’s a term for the kind of sand that makes this yip-yip-yip sound. It’s called barking sand . Plus, a listener describes some of the English she heard in a small Alaskan coastal town. It’s a rich mixture of fishermen’s slang, along with the speech of Native people, and the Norwegians who settled there. All that, and a triple-threat puzzle, paternoster lakes , barely vs. nearly , comprised of vs. composed of , cark , kittenball , the pokey , happy as a boardinghouse pup , close, but no tomato , and plenty more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Make a Beeline - 19 August 2024 53:45

42 weeks ago53:45

53:45

If you make a beeline for something, you’re taking the shortest route possible. You’re also mimicking bee-havior! After a bee has visited enough flowers to gather nectar, she flies straight back to the hive. And: Even a word like throttlebottom looks gorgeous if a calligrapher gets hold of it. Plus, the Oxford English Dictionary added the word babyccino . It’s a hot, frothy drink for kids — all milk and caffeine-free. Also, I don’t care to , a quiz about imaginary schools, how to pronounce species , how to guess someone’s dialect, joner and jonered , ejectamenta , snout-fair , and it’s dark under the table . Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Baby's Breath (Rebroadcast) - 12 August 2024 53:45

43 weeks ago53:45

53:45

Have you ever googled your own name and found someone else who goes by the very same moniker? There’s a word for that: googleganger . Plus, the language of hobbyists and enthusiasts: If you’re a beekeeper, perhaps you call yourself a beek , and if you’re an Adult Fan of Lego you may refer to yourself as an AFOL . Also: what will you get if you order a bag of jo jos ? In parts of the United States, you may just get a blank look — but in others, ask for some jo jos and you’ll get a bag of tasty fried potato wedges. Topping it off, a sunny-side-up puzzle, pulchritude , a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you , baby’s breath , synanthrope , antidisestablishmentarianism , believe you me , and you cannot cover the sun with a finger , and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact . Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443 . Email words@waywordradio.org . Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

1
Pickled Peppers - 5 August 2024 53:45

44 weeks ago53:45