Grant and Martha discuss a new term, bike-shedding, and an old one, tohubohu. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Bike-Shedding” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette. And I’m Grant...
When you’re late for something in Johannesburg, you can always say you were “held up by robots” and no one will think twice. That’s because in South Africa, a robot is a traffic light. The hosts discuss this and other terms...
Does the English expression “falling in love” derive from the biblical story of Rebekah and Isaac? A caller thinks so. The hosts don’t think so. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Etymology of “Falling...
There are nearly 7,000 languages in the world today, and by some estimates, they’re dying off at the rate of one every week. What’s lost when a language dies? Martha and Grant discuss that question and efforts to record some endangered...
“You’re the apple of my eye” is an ancient term of endearment. Martha explains the connections between apples, eyes, and other precious things. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “The Apple of My Eye” Hi...
A cantor from a synagogue in Nyack, New York, says she’s fond of the expression “the heebie-jeebies” but recently began worrying that it might be anti-Semitic. Did the term “heebie-jeebies” originate as a slur against...