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Episode 1374

Polyglot Problems

It’s the business of business jargon. Say you’re in line at the drugstore. Does it bother you if the cashier says, “Next guest”? In department stores and coffeeshops, does the term “guest” suggest real...

dollar banana

dollar banana  n.— «Bananas from these countries are called “dollar bananas” because they are exported to North America and produced by American companies.» —“Global Issues For Breakfast: The Banana Industry And Its Problems Faq...

mag-stripe

mag-stripe  n.— «In theory, overseas merchants are required to accept US cards (which are called “mag-stripe,” for the magnetic stripe that identifies each card).» —“HomeATM’s “PIN my Card” Solves Chip and PIN...

Biting the Wax Tadpole by Elizabeth Little

It’s the wacky title of a new book by language enthusiast Elizabeth Little which has Martha and Grant talking about whether Coca-Cola and Chevy ran into cultural translation problems when selling products abroad. Did the Chevy Nova really sell...

teething

teething  n.— «The Customs Union has a myriad of problems initially referred to as “teething,” but not any more. Three years on, some areas are yet to be fully smothered.» —“East Africa: Is EAC a Solution to the Problems...

Eastlos

Eastlos  n.— «RUBIN: I’m like, “Oh, a Latino kid from Eastlos going to New York.” SANCHEZ: Eastlos? RUBIN: Yeah, East Los Angeles, going to New York.» —“Profile: Problems at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles...

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