Hi, ho! In this week’s episode, we discuss odd words, how children learn to talk, “in my wheelhouse,” “high as Cooter Brown,” and “good leather.” Greg Pliska metagrobolizes us with a quiz based on the 2011...
What was your first word? Grant and Martha talk about how children acquire language. Also, if you say that something’s in your wheelhouse, you mean that it’s within your area of expertise. But why “wheelhouse”? And what does...
Buenos! In this week’s archive edition, we consider alternatives to the word “retirement.” We also discuss “swan song,” “bike-shedding,” “tohubohu,” “criteria,” and how to pronounce...
Happy Palindrome Day--or, if you prefer, "011110 Day"--from your friends at "A Way with Words"! Lots to report from Language Land: First, there are a number of recent full-length episodes you may not have...
eatertainment n.— «In our society, eating, especially eating “fun” foods that are high in fats, salt, and sugar, is one of the cheapest (at least in immediate costs) forms of recreation. They referred to it as...
fallstreak hole n.— «“Hole punch clouds,” also known as “fallstreak holes,” occur when patches of high cloud freeze and fall as ice crystals, leaving a dramatic gap behind.» —“Holes over Louisiana” Cloud...