Eric from Harrisonburg, Virginia, wants to know: What’s the origin of footloose and fancy-free, which describes someone unencumbered by obligations or worries? This is part of a complete episode.
Enthusiastic book recommendations! Martha’s savoring the biography of Alexander von Humboldt, the 19th-century explorer, polymath, and naturalist who revolutionized our understanding of nature and predicted the effects of human activity on...
Kimberly in Harrisonburg, Virginia, has a family tradition of enjoying fried biscuit dough with butter for breakfast. They refer to these fried, doughy treats as scorns, but they’ve never heard anyone else use this term. Have you? Or might...
Affrilachian adj.— «Finney is an associate professor of creative writing at the University of Kentucky and founding member of the Affrilachian Poets. “Affrilachian” is a term used to describe people of color living in the Appalacian...
gadget play n.— «More commonly referred to as trick or gadget plays, Colbert used these halfback passes, double passes and reverses with surprising aplomb—and effectiveness.» —“Colbert Takes BC’s ‘Special’ Offense...