In Ireland, the word omadhaun means “a foolish person.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Omadhaun” Not often that I’m reading a newspaper article that sends me running to the dictionary, but I had to...
Why, when someone’s unhappy about something, do we say someone’s nose is out of joint or out of socket? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Nose Out of Joint” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Oh, this is Scott...
What’s the difference between borrow and lend, or between borrow and loan? The real difference between these verbs is which direction the thing is traveling. Something similar happens with teach vs. learn and bring vs. take. This is part of a...
If someone is gobsmacked, they’re totally surprised. The term may come from the same Gaelic root that gave us the Everlasting Gobstopper. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Gobsmacked” Hello, you have A Way with...
lining out n.— «Though from central Scotland, the band have used Gaelic in their name (Dubh means black). This is a link to the claims of the similarities between Gaelic psalms and pre-blues gospel and spiritual music of black American...
geidh adj.— «The Gaelic language has at least half a dozen words to describe homosexuals, varying from merely impolite to obscene. Such is the lack of a non-judgmental term for gay people that the BBC’s Gaelic radio service was recently...