Is it time to replace the expression “the mentally ill”? Some argue the term unfairly stigmatizes a broad range of people. Also, the winter sport of… skitching, which involves snowy roads, leather shoes — and car bumpers. Needless to say, don’t try...
How do sports idioms translate to other languages in cultures where the sport isn’t popular? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Foreign Sport Idioms” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Jay. I’m calling from Boston. Jay...
Dude! We’re used to hearing the word “dude” applied to guys. But increasingly, young women use the word “dude” to address each other. Grant and Martha talk about linguistic research about the meaning and uses of “dude.” Also, the story behind the...
Classical musicians have their own workplace slang: a clam is a missed note, a football is a whole note, hairpins are crescendo and decrescendo marks, and an axe can be any instrument, not just a guitar. Listener Kyle also offered bisectional for...
With linsanity and tebowing sweeping the country, we’re thinking about other great sports nicknames. Unfortunately, it seems that with unique names taking up a greater percentage of children born, there’s no longer as much practical demand for...
Hey, look: there are three brand-new episodes to tell you about! Each includes a few rounds of devious word puzzles cooked up by our quiz guy John Chaneski, as well as: Last weekend, “Secret Gibberish”: piggyback gibberish the pronunciation of...