For all intents and purposes, the phrase all intensive purposes is just plain wrong. It’s an example of what linguists call an eggcorn. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Intensive Purposes” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, my...
What’s your favorite -ology? Perhaps alethiology, the study of truth, from the Greek alethia? Theologians might concern themselves with naology, the study of holy buildings. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Ologies” You’re...
Rebecca in Seattle says a friend claimed another beer would slate his thirst, while another suggested slay his thirst. The standard expression is slake your thirst, meaning to quench or satisfy it. Slay your thirst works as an eggcorn, a misheard...
Where is Podunk? Grant explains that a columnist in the 1800s used the name for his series called “Life in the Small Town of Podunk,” referring to a generic backwoods American town. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Podunk, America”...
Greetings! In our latest show, we talk about an expression familiar to many African-Americans but little known outside that community, "I couldn't buy a louse in a wrestling jacket." Also, what does it mean if your dog is...
What’s the right way to pronounce gyros? Have you ever heard of feeling poozley? Called something great a blinger? Use the expression one-off to mean a “one-time thing”?
