A Tuscon, Arizona, listener is right to be skeptical when someone suggests to her that the term biffy, meaning “portable toilet,” is an acronym for Bathroom in Forest for You. The etymology of biffy has eluded researchers for years, although there’s...
Does johnny-on-the-spot refer to a person or a porta-potty? Or both? The term johnny-on-the-spot, meaning a fellow who helpfully shows up at just the right instant, dates to the 1870s. But in the early 1900s, the john became a common euphemism for...
Looking for a book to read with the kids, or maybe a guide to becoming a better writer? Why are leg cramps called charley horses? And where’d we get a phrase like pie in the sky? If you happen to be tall, you’ve no doubt heard plenty of clueless...
Grant and Martha read emails from listeners with suggested explanations as to how the term biffy came to mean “portable toilet.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Biffy” Grant, a few weeks ago on our show, we were discussing the...
A San Diego listener has a weird word on her mind: biffy (meaning “toilet”). This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Origin of Biffy” Hi, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Megan from San Diego, California. I had a question about the...
