In South Africa, a jocular rhyme that means “Thank you” is Dankie op ‘n plankie — literally, “Thank you on a board” or “Thank you on a plank.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Dankie op ‘n Plankie” If you’re ever in South Africa...
Quincy from Bozeman, Montana, wonders how burritos came to be named with a Spanish word that means “little donkey.” In Spanish, the meaning of burro has also extended from “donkey” to “sawhorse.” In the case of the tortilla-wrapped comfort food...
The German word for “mnemonic device” is Eselsbrücke, or literally, “donkey bridge.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Eselsbrücke” We were talking at the top of the show about mnemonic devices. And I love the German word for a...
What do you say when someone stands between you and the television? Some people say, “Were you drinking muddy water?” Another option: “I can’t see through your bay window!” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Drinking Muddy Water” We...
Lee from Philadelphia’s green Amazon parrot is named Alexander Hamilton, not Polly, but strangers still greet him with Polly want a cracker? The joke is old: Poll was a nickname for parrots as far back as the 1600s, and by 1848 the cracker line was...
dirt diving n.— «Tucked away on a long driveway, just after a donkey farm, is Vermont Skydiving Adventures (VSA).…Last Friday, four regulars were “dirt diving,” the term for practicing maneuvers on the ground. They were planning on “turning...