A listener in Park City, Utah, says she and her fellow ski enthusiasts are having heated debates about the word nonplussed. It originally meant “at a loss,” from Latin non plus, meaning “no more,” suggesting a situation in which one can go no...
A listener shares a story about the time his young granddaughter proudly showed off having tied her shoes. He points out that her shoes are on the wrong feet, but the granddaughter takes it literally, with amusing results. This is part of a complete...
Daddle is an archaic term for “hand” or “fist,” and tip us your daddle is an invitation to shake hands. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Daddle” I did not know until this week the word daddle, D-A-D-D-L-E. It’s not related to...
Tom at UC San Diego missed a meeting after hearing next Thursday, a phrase that can point to the coming Thursday or the Thursday after that, depending on timing and context. In natural conversation, people usually renegotiate dates with a follow-up...
The language of restaurant menus. Need a dictionary to get through a dinner menu? Research shows the longer the description of a particular dish, the more expensive it will be. Plus: What’s the best way to use a thesaurus? DON’T — unless, that is...
Here’s a widely applicable book review: The covers of this book are too far apart. It’s attributed to Ambrose Bierce, although it’s unlikely he actually came up with it. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Misattributed Book Review”...