You walk into a used bookstore, or pull down an old volume at the library, and there it is: The smell of old books. If you detect notes of vanilla in that intoxicating scent, there’s a reason. Also, why some people think the word awesome is...
The Pope has several Twitter feeds — and one of them’s entirely in Latin! But how do you adapt an ancient language to the modern world of selfies and hashtags? Plus, pit bull lovers are giving their dogs a linguistic makeover; they’re calling their...
What does one order when on a strict diet? How about a honeymoon salad: “lettuce alone!” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Honeymoon Salad” If you’re on a strict diet, Grant, you can always order honeymoon salad. What is that...
In parts of the American South, a can of creasies is a can of watercress salad, also known as salad greens. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Creasies” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Mary Beth Wood. Hi, Mary Beth...
Well, look what the cat dragged in! It’s another newsletter from A Way with Words. Given how often we talk about food words, we should write a cookbook. For example, this past weekend’s show was a leftover — a rebroadcast, a rerun, a re-airing...
“Knowledge is knowing tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” Thank you to our listeners for this and other modern proverbs. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Modern Proverbs from Listeners” I’m looking at...