Todd, a firefighter in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, wonders about the difference between the words smell and odor. Also, which verb is the better choice: orient or orientate? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Smell vs. Odor”...
A listener in Billings, Montana, wonders about two of her boyfriend’s favorite slang terms: clutch and dank. Clutch most likely derives from the world of sports, where a clutch play requires peak performance from an athlete, giving rise to...
The hosts and a listener in Grand Rapids, Michigan, trade some 17th-century insults. For more, check out these references: Gargantua and English Words With Native Roots And With Greek, Latin, Or Romance Suffixes by George Albert Nicholson. This is...
green cardboard n.— «Kris Van Haitsma’s selection on the co-op site will change depending on what’s ready. But you won’t ever find iceberg lettuce—or green cardboard as Steve Van Haitsma’s grandpa referred to it.» —“Take a trip to...
reshop v.— «Quite disgusted I turned my attention back to loading my cart with product that was to be returned to the shelves (or reshop).» —“The Troll Baby” by Tiffin LaGoat bites (Grand Rapids...
re-shop v.— «Back at Target, manager Bonnie Meeker said she picks up two shopping-cart loads of items every time she walks past the checkout lanes, the consequence of what Meeker calls “re-shop.” “Re-shopping is our...