A caller sends Grant and Martha off on a slang-infested trip about ways of saying a fast good-bye. Listen as they blow pop, popcorn, and taco stands by way of author Jim Harrison, the comic strip Funky Winkerbean, and a Warhol hanger-on.
As a small bonus, you can watch here (QuickTime, 1 MB) or listen here (WAV 832 K) as Marlon Brando says, “Where’s my gold? I’m gonna blow this joint” in a scene from the classic 1953 movie The Wild One.
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...
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...
Now isn’t it interesting that my brain filled in the *t* and I didn’t even notice it was missing until you pointed it out! In addition, my mind is becoming accustomed to seeing partial words in the headings, thanks to the short subject boxes that electronic screens devise.
On a different topic, I want to thank you for the enjoyable time I had playing the slang quiz. Slon doon! ~DeeDee Varner
Hi Martha and Grant!
My wife and I went skiing at South Lake Tahoe for our anniversary last year, and our motel room was next to some young guys, probably college age, who were willing and able to party much longer into the night than we were. At about 2 a.m., I went to their door to ask/tell them to keep it down. As the whippersnapper was closing the door in my face, he said, “Bounce, dude.” I went back to my wife, completely befuddled. I have never felt so old. The next day I consulted my 15-year-old son, who explained that the fellow in the room next door was telling me to leave. If kids these days are at a party, one might say to the other, “This party’s lame; let’s bounce.” That’s apparently the equivalent of, “Let’s blow this pop stand” (which is how I learned the phrase growing up in Indiana).
Love y’all’s show. So glad you’re back.
BAB
It’s very funny to see you all laughing cuz of the new slangs and stuff like that.
As a foreigner who has never lived in an English native speaker country, i’d say that slangs are my biggest problem. I think i’ll always laugh and remind me of you when i hear a new one… lol
Thank you all. It’s been very helpful to listen to ya.
I first saw “Let’s blow this pop stand” in writing in 1958. I was in high school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the phrase appeared in a document (perhaps the school paper) listing some of the characteristics of graduating seniors. I had not previously heard it spoken, but have spoken it once or twice since then.
I always imagined ‘Let’s blow this joint!’ originating from a 1960’s hippie trying to get his buddies to leave a lame party for some J-smoking.