Noah, a nine-year-old in Yuma, Arizona, asks about cattywampus, the word his mother uses for things that are messed up. It means askew, awry, crooked, or otherwise not as it should be. The origin is uncertain, but the word is at least a century old...
A high school student called in to ask about a term his peers use for flirting: chopping. Ever heard it? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Chopping and Flirting” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, my name is Henry...
If a command begins or ends with the word please, does that make the order optional? The hosts agree that generally it’s polite to honor such a request, despite the phrasing. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Does Please...
A middle-schooler who’s reading Anne of Green Gables is puzzled by a mention of “breakfast, dinner, and supper.” She wants to know if the words “dinner” and “lunch” really interchangeable. This is part of a...
A Florida eighth grader wants to know if a word she memorized for a spelling bee is real: agathokakological. Easy for her to say. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Agathokakological Means Made of Good and Evil” Hello...
