Emilia from Chicago, Illinois, says a co-worker used the phrase get the Motts to denote the feeling of second-hand embarrassment she feels for someone when watching a cringeworthy performance. The phrase I got the Motts became a catchphrase in the...
Sensuous words and terms of endearment. Think of a beautiful word. Now, is it simply the word’s sound that makes it beautiful? Or does its appeal also depend on meaning? Also, pet names for lovers around the world: You might call your beloved...
Schadenfreude, from German for “damage-joy,” means “delight in the misfortune of others.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Schadenfreude” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Camille...
Though the Spanish language, among others, has its quirks and foreignisms, the English language really can’t be touched when it comes to complicated and irregular spelling. Thus, spelling bees are primarily an English-language phenomenon...
Is there a single word that sums up the idea of morbid fascination? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Morbid Fascination” Hi, you have A Way with Words. Howdy, this is David Cobb calling from Eureka, California. Howdy...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski has a quiz called “Scronsonants.” The object is to guess two-word phrases containing a pair of words starting with the same three consonants. Here’s one: “I get a particular joy from the pain of others...
