An acclaimed poet’s tender poem about holding a newborn for the first time reflects a complex swirl of emotions. And: A caller finds that in her workplace, the expression out of pocket can mean very different things: either “being unavailable” or...
Jacuzzi and silhouette are eponyms — that is, they derive from the names of people. An Italian immigrant to California invented the bubbly hot tub called a jacuzzi. And the word silhouette commemorates a penny-pinching treasury secretary who lasted...
Fred Allen, an old-time radio performer from the medium’s golden age, had a dry gift for one-liners. He once said, “Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns. He should be drawn and quoted.” Another Allen line: “I like long walks, especially when...
Many Yogisms, the quips associated with New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra, were probably around before they became attached to his name. Linguist Garson O’Toole’s site Quote Investigator traces the origins of much-quoted lines and tests familiar...
When it comes to tattoos, passages of text are an increasingly popular alternative to images. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Text Tattoos” You’re listening to A Way with Words, a show about language and how we use it. I’m Grant...
Nothing brightens up an email like an emoticon. But is it appropriate to include a smiley face in an email to your boss? Also, what do time management experts mean when they say you should start each day by “eating the frog”? Plus, the story behind...