In Philadelphia, the expression the big mahoff, means “a bigshot,” as in “Who do you think you are, the big mahoff?” But just what is a mahoff? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “The Big Mahoff”...
If you get hold of some bad sushi for lunch, you’ll wind up feeling poozley. A caller whose in-laws use poozley insists they must have made it up. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Poozley” Hi, you have A Way with...
Gabriel, near Baltimore, grew up in Utah and startled a Portland friend by asking him to put some papers in the jockey box. The term means a car’s glove compartment or glove box, and it turns up especially in Idaho and Utah, with some wider...
Sharpen those pencils! Martha and Grant are doing crossword puzzles on the air again, preparing for their appearance with NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament in New York City.
A Pittsburgh man is bothered by people who would say someone wrote an outraged letter. Can a letter really be angry and indignant or is it really the writer who’s upset? Martha answers his question and seizes the opportunity to talk about the...
This week’s Slang This! contestant is asked to guess the meanings of the slang terms gauge and head-up. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Gauge and Head-Up” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m...