A listener remembers her grandmother’s colorful comment when someone arrived late after getting lost: You went around your elbow to get to your thumb. Lots of similar sayings in English suggest roundabout routes or overcomplicated tasks, including...
The word climb has been sneaking by with that silent b for a while. But speakers of Old English pronounced the b in its predecessor, climban. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Words With Silent B” Hello, you have A Way with Words...
slippa n.— «The state’s struggling visitor industry hopes the Tourist in Chief’s obvious affection for slippas and shakas (Hawaiian slang for flip-flop sandals and a thumb-and-pinky salute) inspires more vacationers to follow his lead.» —“Hawaii...
