platespeak n.— «Is one of Britain’s best-loved dialects, the curious language of personalised number plates, heading for oblivion?…Those who cannot afford the best plates have been forced to use a bit of ingenuity to get close to...
Hockey mom? Staycation? Recessionista? What’s your choice for Word of the Year 2008? Also, what expression do you use to describe when it’s raining but the sun is still shining?
It’s that time again, when people start thinking about a new or resurgent word or phrase that best captures the spirit of the past year. And what a year! We heard the words bailout and lipstick more times than we’d ever dreamed, and saw...
Feel like having a little “hair of the dog”? Grant and Martha explain what dog hair has to do with hangover cures. And what do you call it when random objects form a recognizable image, like a cloud resembling a bunny, or the image of Elvis in...
If someone says he finna go, he means he’s leaving. But finna? Grant has the final word about finna. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Finna” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Franklin. I’m...
Is the expression beck and call or beckon call? What’s a beck? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Beck and Call” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hello, this is Mara Spring. I’m calling from Wisconsin. Hi...