A Pennsylvania college student remembers playing a game called “Whisper Down the Lane.” She’s surprised to learn that her fellow students call the same game “Telephone.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Whisper Down the Lane” Hi...
Hi! In the latest episode of “A Way with Words,” it’s the day jobs of famous writers. We also discuss Eskimo kisses, the Puerto Rican treat called a “limber,” how “fail” became a noun, “I’m efforting that,” the term “chester drawers,” and where you...
A die-hard fan of television’s Mad Men is puzzled when Don calls Betty a “Main Line brat.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Main Line Brat” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, my name’s Lisa and I’m from Groton, Connecticut...
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” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi...
It’s a brand-new season of A Way with Words! Grant has big news, too: He’s used up his last Metrocard, packed up his belongings, and moved to the Left Coast. He reports on some features of California language there that are already catching his ear...
A Philadelphia listener has a Yiddish twist on an old palindrome: “Unable I was ere I saw Elba, nu?” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Yiddish Palindrome” We had an email recently from Jeff in Philly who wrote to ask if we’d ever...