Pepper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, wonders why something valuable to someone is called the apple of their eye. The expression apple of one’s eye dates back to the ninth century. It comes from misunderstanding the pupil of the eye as a sphere and...
A question from a listener on the A Way with Words Facebook page has Martha musing about the entomological and etymological connections between the word pupil and the pupal stage of an insect’s life.
circle time n.— «He gave the example of what is called “circle time” in primary schools, which, he said, used to be a chance for pupils to sit down at the end of the school day and talk about what they had learned. Now youngsters were encouraged to...
“You’re the apple of my eye” is an ancient term of endearment. Martha explains the connections between apples, eyes, and other precious things. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “The Apple of My Eye” Hi, you have A Way with Words...
high touch adj.— «“If we go high tech, we’re also going to go high touch,” he said, referring to what he said would be an increased contact between pupil and teacher.» —“Alexandria Proposes Elementary Magnet School in Science” by Lena H...
