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...
Why do auctioneers talk so fast? Martha and Grant discuss the rapid-fire speech of auctioneers, and how it gets you to bid higher. Also, why so many books have ridiculously long titles, where you’d have sonker for dessert, and an appreciation...
What dessert would you serve a baseball player? Why, a bundt cake, of course! This is part of a complete episode.
smash cake n.— «Chocolate “smash” cakes (hollow chocolate “cakes” filled with treats) are popular here.» —“The Chocolate Issue” Toronto Star (Canada) Feb. 13, 2002. (source: Double-Tongued...
cupcake v. to compete or win with little effort. Editorial Note: Usually transitive, especially in the form cupcake it. Thanks and credit go to Ben Zimmer for his research. Etymological Note: Ben Zimmer has suggested comparisons with other dessert...
gedunk n. ice cream, a dessert, a snack, or any easy-to-consume food; a store, mess hall, or other place where such treats are bought or eaten. Also geedunk, gedonk, geedonk. Editorial Note: In the 1925 citation to gedunk, meaning ‘to dunk (food),’...