Brad from Allen, Texas, is curious about a term he’s heard only in Texas. It’s used to refer affectionately to a mother or grandmother: T Jones. Most uses of this term for a parent or grandmother seem to occur in the Dallas area. It’s been around...
A caller from Los Angeles, California, wonders why we say “hang a Roscoe” for “turn right” when giving directions. This phrase, as well as “hang a Louie,” meaning “turn left,” go back at least as far as the 1960’s. These expressions are much like...
If someone has biffed it, they’ve fallen down and embarrassed themselves. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Biffed It” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Anna calling from Dallas, Texas. Hey, Anna, welcome. Hi, Anna...
A Tacoma, Wash., police report from 1946 is chock-full of showy police slang, from the punk on the stem to the handle of the beefer. Read the whole thing here. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “1946 Police Slang” Hello, you have A...
Is the TV show Hawaii Five-0 named for Ford Mustang 5.0 engines in police cruisers? No, and it’s correctly typed with a zero instead of the letter “O.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Hawaii Five-0” Hello, you have A Way with...
When someone grabs your underwear from behind and gives it a good, vertical yank, it’s called a wedgie. A caller knows that term, but wonders whether and how a wedgie differs from a murphy or a melvin. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript...