After our discussion about nieflings and niblings and other collective nouns for “nieces and nephews,” an Eau Claire, Wisconsin, listener offers kindlings, suggesting new beginnings and warmth. This is part of a complete episode...
After our conversation about whoopsy-daisy and other terms for a sudden dip in the road, Jane in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, reports that she’s heard people in Wisconsin and Minnesota refer to such a dip as a hoopla. This is part of a complete...
Peter in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, asks how the expression I’m beside myself came to mean “upset” or “unsettled.” The phrase suggests an out-of-body experience and came into English in the 14th century via a French...
Joan in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, asks about hayna, a spoken regional term she grew up with in northeastern Pennsylvania. It’s used as a friendly tag question meaning something like isn’t it? or right? Hayna is an orally transmitted tag question...
Sherbet is pronounced SHUR-bit. There’s no r before the t, and there’s no need to add one. If it still seems too complicated, you might just order ice cream or sorbet instead. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
If you’ve “seen the elephant,” it means you’ve been in combat. But why an elephant? Martha and Grant also discuss some odd idioms in Spanish, including one that translates as “your bowtie is whistling.” And what...