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Episode 1651

Holy Toledo

In 1944, an Italian scientist discovered a drug that he later named for his wife. His wife’s name was Marguerite, but she went by Rita — which is why this now familiar drug is known as Ritalin. Plus, a poem about churning butter shows how a...

Episode 1364

Gracious Plenty

When somebody sneezes, we say bless you or gesundheit. But suppose that person coughs. Are you supposed to say something — or are they? Plus, Mexican standoffs, gracious plenty, linguistic false friends, southpaw vs. northpaw, the slang of rabbit...

False Friends

Beware of linguistic false friends, also known as false cognates. You wouldn’t want to say you’re feeling embarazada in Spanish, unless you want to say you’re pregnant. And don’t order the tuna in Spain unless you want to...

Crispie

Crispie  n.— «They have bought so much property in England, Spain and in countries in Eastern Europe that they have been dubbed Crispies—short for cash-rich Irish seeking properties in Europe.» —“An Irish Taste for Real Estate in...

Lebanese loop

Lebanese loop  n.— «In addition, the so-called “Lebanese loop card trap” has spread across Argentina, Canada, Spain and the United States. For this crime, first discovered in Lebanon, a card trap, which uses a strip of film, is...