Rob and Andrea in Wilmington, Delaware, ask about a word they associate with southern West Virginia. It’s a word for something you “put on” bad behavior to shut it down, and it sounds like it’d be spelled something like quieenus. Their word is...
Since the 13th century, the adjective wicked has meant “bad” or “evil.” So why do people in New England use wicked as an intensifying adverb to mean “very” or “extremely”? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Wicked is a Very Fine...
Rowan in Ottawa, Ontario, says her Irish mom used a puzzling word to indicate a sort of restless discontent not caused by anything in particular. It may be neamhchinnte, which means “uncertain” or “indecisive.” This is part of a complete episode...
In an 1899 contest sponsored by a literary magazine, a reader proposed the word whifflement to mean “an object of small importance.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Whifflement” Earlier I mentioned that contest where a London...
In Scotland and parts of Northern England, dwadle means to “waste time,” “loiter,” or “linger.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “If It Dwadles Like a Dawdler…” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Good morning. How are you? This is...
Sue from Nome, Alaska, says that when her grandmother was astonished, she’d sometimes exclaim Well, burn my clothing! The more common expression is Well, burn my clothes! This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Well, Burn My Clothes!”...