Ten-year-old Alex, from Oceanside, California, wonders if a cat’s flicking tail inspired the expression telltale sign, meaning “an indicator.” The word is telltale, not its soundalike telltail. About 400 years ago, a telltale was a “tattler.” Today...
On March 14, or 3/14, fans of both dessert and decimals come together to celebrate Pi Day. This year, though, it’s not enough to call it at 3/14, because it’s 3/14/15, and at 9:26 and 53 seconds, the first ten digits of pi will all be aligned...
Grant reads an email from a listener whose family used to play a game she calls “Apple Core, Baltimore.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Apple Core, Baltimore” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette. And I’m...

