Jean in Trucksville, Pennsylvania, says her family hasn’t named a household appliance, exactly, although they did christen their compost bin Darth Vader. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “The Smell is Strong in This...
“The worm has turned” suggests a reversal of fortune, particularly the kind of situation in which a meek person begins behaving more confidently or starts defending himself. In other words, even the lowliest of creatures will still strike back if...
Twitter’s 140-character format has made way for a whole new brand of comedy writing. See Judah Friedlander: “More than one company should be allowed to sell Monopoly,” or Stephen Colbert: “It doesn’t always pay to get...
Alberta from Winona, Minnesota, wonders about the worm turns, a phrase her husband used for a sudden reversal. It comes from the proverb Tread on a worm and it will turn, meaning that even the humblest creature will defend itself when attacked. In...
Another Argentine idiom goes arrugaste como frenada de gusano. It means “You were scared,” but literally, it’s “You wrinkled like a stopping worm.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Argentine Worm...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski presents a puzzle involving inverted M’s and W’s called “Turn the Worm.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Turn the Worm Puzzle” You’re listening to A Way with Words...