A recent fire in Grant’s apartment building has him pondering the role played by fire in English idioms. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Language of Fires” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette. And I’m Grant...
flame-o-gram n.— «Harrison said Tuesday he had seen the e-mail. “It’s what I call a flame-o-gram,” he said, adding that he does not expect to respond to it.» —“Woman Cheats Death at MCH” by Glenn Barr Mountain-News (Lake Arrowhead) June 24, 2009...
sugar hat n.— «The key is to find a sugar cone (also known as a “sugar hat”) which is a solid piece of white sugar that you can flame.» —“Feuerzangenbowle (Christmas Flaming Mulled Wine)” Celtnet Recipes Jan. 5, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued...
destroilet n.— «John says he can still picture in his mind watching the frost build up on the inside cabin walls as warm air radiated from the heater. However, his most vivid memory of the cabin was the toilet. The boys referred to it as the...
squish n.— «All seven were wearing flame-retardant protective clothing and were standing next to the plant’s No. 1 oxygen furnace when they were “hit with this backlash of extreme heat, slag and molten steel,” United Steelworkers Local 6787...

