After our chat about tongue twisters, a Chicago, Illinois, listener shares one that looks much easier than it sounds: Irish wristwatch. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Say “Irish Wristwatch” Five Times...
Peigner la girafe, literally to comb the giraffe, is French for being stuck with a tedious, useless, or annoying task. Canadian author Mark Abley includes it in Watch Your Tongue: What Our Everyday Sayings and Idioms Figuratively Mean., along with a...
We often hear that English is going to hell in a handbasket. Actually, though, linguistic handwringing about sinking standards and sloppy speech has been going on for centuries – at least as far back as the 1300’s! And: language also...
What do flight attendants call that point in takeoff preparations when they walk up and down the aisle to make sure seatbelts are securely fastened? It’s the crotch watch, also known as a groin scan. The expression flying dirty refers to when...
Segal’s Law states, “A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Segal’s Law” Have you heard of Seagull’s Law? S-E-G-A...
macaroon technique n.— «He used PowerPoint to impart what he calls the “macaroon technique,” referring to the sandwich-like French macaron pastry. This can be applied to most any product (including, presumably, a Xerox machine) and goes...