When it comes to the names of towns and cities, the locals don’t necessarily pronounce them the way you expect. Charlotte, Vermont, for example, is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, not the first — and therein lies a history...
Uff-da! is an exclamation of disgust or annoyance. In Norwegian, it means roughly the same as Yiddish Oy vey!, and is now common in areas of the U.S. settled by Norwegians, particularly Wisconsin and Minnesota. This is part of a complete...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski takes us on a road trip, which means another round of the License Plate Game! This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “New License Plate Word Game” You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show...
What do you call the place you purchase adult beverages? Is it a liquor store or a package store? Package store is common in the Northeast, while folks in Milwaukee know it as the beer depot, and Pennsylvanians might call it the ABC store. Tell us...
Does your vocabulary mark you as old or outdated? Certain words really indicate generational gaps, like chronological shibboleths. For example, are thongs panties or flip-flops? And what do women carry around — a pocketbook, a purse, or a bag? Your...
At one time, a boner was a mistake. And now, it’s — you know. Beware of that outdated usage, grownups! This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Innocent Boner” We’re talking about the things that people say that...