The English word ouch is not universal. Michelle from Dallas, Texas, wondered whether people in all languages say it when they stub a toe, and the answer is no. Every language has its own short, vowel-heavy interjection. German speakers say autsch...
In an earlier episode, Martha explained the origin of the expression to boot, meaning “in addition” or “besides.” That prompted an email from a listener wanting to know why we speak of booting a computer. Grant has the answer...
If English isn’t your first language, there are lots of ways to learn it, such as memorizing Barack Obama’s speech to the 2004 Democratic Convention. Martha and Grant talk about some of the unusual ways foreigners are learning to speak...
If you’re having a conversation with someone, are you speaking with them, speaking to them, talking to them, or talking with them? A caller wonders what differences, if any, exist among all those expressions. This is part of a complete episode...
woodie n.— «At the moment, I was committed to Lightning Racer, a gorgeous, spaghetti-framed dueling woodie (that’s coaster-speak for a wooden coaster) that lifts you high above the lush landscape of Hersheypark.» —“A Good Old...
ploddledygook n.— «Such terms are among a long list of needless police jargon—or “ploddledygook”—which should be ditched, according to the Plain English Campaign.» —“Do You Speak Ploddledygook? The Police Force Jargon...
