To joner means to “bring bad luck to” or “jinx.” This term is a corruption of the name Jonah, the biblical figure who initially resisted a divine command. His presence on board a ship supposedly caused a great storm at sea, but when he was thrown...
Chris in Ithaca, New York, contends that English needs a word that packs the same punch as the Spanish word vergüenza, usually translated as “shame,” but conveying more than that. Vergüenza derives from Latin verecundia, which specifies a kind of...
Emilia from Chicago, Illinois, says a co-worker used the phrase get the Motts to denote the feeling of second-hand embarrassment she feels for someone when watching a cringeworthy performance. The phrase I got the Motts became a catchphrase in the...
Evelyn in Wilmington, North Carolina, says that when she and her older sister were sassy to their parents, her mother would say either You’re getting too big for your britches or I’m going to bring you down a buttonhole lower. The former makes...
If someone has biffed it, they’ve fallen down and embarrassed themselves. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Biffed It” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Anna calling from Dallas, Texas. Hey, Anna, welcome. Hi, Anna...
What does one order when on a strict diet? How about a honeymoon salad: “lettuce alone!” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Honeymoon Salad” If you’re on a strict diet, Grant, you can always order honeymoon salad. What is that...