In Ireland, the word omadhaun means “a foolish person.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Omadhaun” Not often that I’m reading a newspaper article that sends me running to the dictionary, but I had to recently for the word amadan. O...
A listener in Council Bluffs, Iowa, says his grandmother, born in 1899, used to say I’m feeling punk, meaning “I’m feeling ill.” The term derives from an older sense of punk meaning “rotted wood.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
“We’re off like a dirty shirt” indicates the speaker is “leaving right away” or “commencing immediately.” Similar phrases include “off like a prom dress” and “off like a bride’s nightie.” All of them suggest haste, urgency, and speed. This is part...
Teaching our children, and some advice for writers. Suppose your child is eager to tackle a difficult subject–ancient Greek, for example–but you know his reach exceeds his grasp? The challenge is to support the child’s curiosity without squelching...
All writers should heed the advice of Stephen King: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Stephen King Quote for Writers” I’ve got some writing advice...
Oh, adjectives. Sometimes you are indeed the banana peel of the parts of speech. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Authors Against Adjectives” Grant, how do you feel about adjectives? Love them. Yeah? They’re great. They’re...
