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Whippersnapper

A listener in Fairbanks, Alaska, says her husband has long referred to her as a whippersnapper, insisting it’s a playful term of endearment. Whippersnapper goes back to the 17th century, when boys who didn’t own horses would strut around...

International Terms of Endearment

“May a mouse eat you,” or in Persian, moosh bokharadet, is a term of endearment suggesting the recipient is small and cute. Another picturesque hypocorism: French mon petit chou, “sweetheart,” but literally, “my little...

Cherry Lifesaver

Why shouldn’t it be a term of endearment to call someone a cherry Lifesaver? Cherry’s the best flavor! This is part of a complete episode.

Terms of Endearment

What pet names do you have for your loved ones? In The Joys of Yiddish, Leo Rosten shares the name his Mother used to call him — bubala, a term of endearment grandmothers might use in addressing children. We have all kinds of substitutes for the...

It’s WOTY Time

Hi, all -- What's your choice for Word of the Year? "Vuvuzela"? "Starwhacker"? This week, we discuss WOTY candidates, plus the name "Hawaii 5-0," the political tagline "I approve this message,"...

The Apple of My Eye

“You’re the apple of my eye” is an ancient term of endearment. Martha explains the connections between apples, eyes, and other precious things. This is part of a complete episode.

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