The mother of eight-year-old twins wonders why one of her girls habitually adds “dun-dun-DUN!” to sentences in everyday conversation. The hosts suspect it’s related to the audio element known as a “sting” in television...
Grant talks about two other weather-related terms, frontogenesis and aeromancy. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Frontogenesis” Well, here’s a weather term, Martha. This one sounds so made up, but apparently...
Grant shares another weather-related word from Britain: parky. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Parky” Martha, if we were in the UK and it was cold and invigorating outside, what would we call it? Brisk? Well, parky. P...
Here’s a handy word: fomite. It means “an inanimate object that can transmit an infectious agent” like a doorknob handle or a comb infested with head lice. It also has a picturesque Latin origin. Martha explains, and shares a...
Rock climbers use the term beta to refer to any information they receive about a route before climbing it. Is it related to beta as in “beta-testing software”? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Rock Climbing...
coyoteing n.— Note: Related to coyote camp. «The remote location of the fire has spurred crews to set up remote campsites closer to the fire’s edge, Freel said, a process known as “coyoteing.”» —“Despite aggressive firefight...