Quiz Guy John Chaneski has been reading the novels of author Stephen King’s annoying doppelganger, Stephen Kong, whose titles are like those of King’s, with the exception of one letter. For example, Kong’s first novel recalls the harsh high school...
A listener in Southampton, New York, puzzles over the language at the end of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, in which the narrator assures that the story will continue so long as children are “gay and innocent and heartless.” What does heartless mean in...
Puzzle Person John Chaneski proffers problems pertaining to the letter P. What alliterative term, for example, also means “wet blanket”? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “P Word Quiz” You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a literature quiz based on descriptions of characters in novels. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Literary Character Quiz” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Grant Barrett. And I’m Martha Barnette...
Peter Pan housing n.— «Philadelphia is full of Peter Pan Housing—housing for people that never grow old. You’ve got living area and kitchen on first floor, bed and bath on second floor, laundry in basement (if you’re lucky enough to have it in your...
Peter Pan housing n. homes not built to take into account the needs of elderly residents. Etymological Note: In the story by J.M. Barrie, the character of Peter Pan never becomes an adult. “Peter Pan” is occasionally used in a different way to...
