Tricia in Cross Oaks, Texas, says that when she was a child, a family friend fondly called her a nitnoy, meaning “a small person.” U.S. soldiers picked this term in Thailand, where nit noi (นิดหน่อย) means “a little bit.” This is part of a complete...
Christine in Charleston, South Carolina, recounts a funny story about someone who was planning to go commando, meaning “to go without underwear.” What’s the origin of that phrase? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Going Commando, A...
Manuel in Fort Worth, Texas, wonders about a phrase he’s heard from his dad and uncles: Cut me a husk, meaning “Give me a break.” The term apparently evolved from slang used by U.S. Marines serving in Vietnam, and HUS, a designation for certain...
Shannon from Virginia Beach, Virginia, heard nitnoy in the Navy as a word for something small or insignificant, as in a nitnoy problem. The likeliest source is Thai nit-noi, meaning “a little bit,” with a plausible route through U.S. military...
Cut a chogi is Korean War-era military slang for moving fast, leaving quickly, or taking a shortcut, as Andre in Indianapolis heard from his father-in-law, such as cutting through a parking lot to get somewhere sooner. The form chogi likely comes...
Smoking cigars is sometimes known as herfing, and a herf is a lively gathering of like-minded puffers. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Herfing” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, Grant and Martha. This is Blake in Indianapolis...
