Is there an express in espresso? Nope. Cafe espresso is literally “pressed-out coffee.” So the name espresso has nothing to do with the speed with which espresso is made. The term express, on the other hand, as in express train, derives...
Alone looks as if it might have something to do with Zen Buddhist all one, but its English history points elsewhere. Art from San Diego wondered about the contrast, since all one can suggest a state of connectedness, while alone means being by...
Adam in Indianapolis grew up with his grandmother’s warning not to split a pole, meaning that two companions shouldn’t pass on opposite sides of a lamppost, mailbox, or other street obstacle. The idea is that the physical separation hints at an...
An Indianapolis listener has a copy of a wedding poem that refers to the thrice-happy pair. Is a thrice-happy pair three times as happy as anyone else? Martha explains that the idea goes all the way back to Roman poetry. Here’s an example from...
Is subscribing just for magazines and podcasts, or can you subscribe to an idea? A husband and wife disagree over whether the latter is grammatically correct. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Subscribing to an Idea” Hi...
Is there a single word that sums up the idea of morbid fascination? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Morbid Fascination” Hi, you have A Way with Words. Howdy, this is David Cobb calling from Eureka, California. Howdy...