What’s the difference between the words kind and nice? It’s perhaps best described as the difference between demeanor and behavior. Being nice refers to how you appear to be, whereas kindness refers to how you act, and what you do for others. This...
Someone who paints a negative or pessimistic picture is said to be hanging crepe. Martha has the origin. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Hanging Crepe” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Suzanne from Dallas. Hi...
Here’s a riddle: “Nature requires five, custom gives seven, laziness takes nine, and wickedness eleven.” Think you know the answer? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Sleep Numbers Riddle” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m...
shopdropping n.— «Otherwise known as reverse shoplifting, shopdropping involves surreptitiously putting things in stores, rather than illegally taking them out, and the motivations vary.» —“Anarchists in the Aisles? Stores Provide a Stage” by Ian...
bust on someone v. phr.— «“Lepore hit a liner to center for the second out,” Christian said. “When he passed by me, he ’All over you, all over you.’ That really pumped me up. I mean, I like it when people bust on me, but do it from the dugout...

