Grant answers a letter from a listener who wonders if it’s ever correct to use the word fishes instead of fish. This is part of a complete episode.
feathered fish n.— «Yet a number of Hollywood observers believed that no amount of marketing could save “W.” from being a “feathered fish”—a film whose target audience thinks it’s for someone else.» —“The Cobra” by Tad...
sea kitten n.— «People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals—believes calling fish sea kittens will make sea food less appealing.» —“PETA’s latest idiotic demand” Courier Mail (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) Jan...
sheepherder n.— «December brings renewed optimism to a stalwart set of anglers who wear metal cleats on their shoes to keep from slipping on algae-covered granite. And the season also favors the folks who target those striped fish with...
goatherder n.— «December brings renewed optimism to a stalwart set of anglers who wear metal cleats on their shoes to keep from slipping on algae-covered granite. And the season also favors the folks who target those striped fish with the...
Welcome to another newsletter from A Way with Words. Over the weekend we talked more about political language, "hair of the dog," "a fish rots from the head down," and "pareidolia." We also posted another language...