The Spanish word candado, or “padlock,” comes from Latin catenatus, meaning “chained,” also the source of the English word concatenation, which means “a series of things,” or literally “links in a chain.” In parts of the Spanish-speaking world...
Tyler in Tallahassee, Florida, has grown a beard long enough to hide a tie knot, and a coffee shop barista praised it as man lettuce. The source of that leafy nickname is uncertain, beyond the barista’s brother-in-law using it, but English has beard...
Victorian slang and a modern controversy over language and gender. In the early 1900’s, a door-knocker wasn’t just what visitors used to announce their arrival, it was a type of beard with a similar shape. And in the 21st century: Is it...
In the 19th century, the slang term door-knocker referred to a beard-and-mustache combo that ringed the mouth in the shape of a metal ring used to tap on a door. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Door-Knocker Beard”...
“There’s a gazelle on the lawn,” meaning you have schmutz on your face, is a fun way to tip someone off to wipe their chin. The expression actually comes to us from Arabic, where the expression “there’s a gazelle in the...
If you’ve kept up with the news these past few months, you’re all set for John Chaneski’s News Limerick Challenge. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Quiz Limericks News Challenge” You’re listening...