Home » Newsletter » Where The Wild Thongs Are

Where The Wild Thongs Are

Howdy!

In our latest episode, we discuss why “he’s seen the elephant” means “he’s been in combat.” Also, a look at idioms, like the Spanish one that translates as “your bowtie is whistling.” And what names do you use for your grandparents? Meemaw? Papaw? Something else? Listen:

https://waywordradio.org/see-the-elephant/

“Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, you’re a mile away and you have his shoes.” Thanks to Tim in Seattle who emailed us that paraprosdokian.

Missed our show on paraprosdokians? It’s here:

https://waywordradio.org/sugar-for-a-dime/

We note with sadness the recent passing of the great Southern writer Reynolds Price. He died last week at the age of 77. The New York Times obit is worth a read:

http://nyti.ms/e9hr4o

An appreciation of Price, plus some of his own helpful writing tips, from one of Price’s former students:

http://bit.ly/iiSsE8

Boston Globe columnist Jan Freeman celebrates the new online OED (available free until Feb. 5!) and ponders whether the term “would-be assassin” makes sense.

http://tinyurl.com/4byydhy

(That link to her column should work, but note that if you return to it later, you’ll get a registration page.)

BEHIND THE SCENES: In an upcoming episode, we’ll discuss the “incorrections” that sometimes result when a smartphone “corrects” text messages.

One listener told us his phone changed the Maurice Sendak title to “Where the Wild Thongs Are.” We’d love to hear about more examples of not-so-smartphones.

Send them to words@waywordradio.org, and yours might end up on the air!

Have a great week,

Martha and Grant

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Further reading

Fizzy relief headed your way

Trivia time! Where in the United States can you visit Soda City? If you answered Columbia, South Carolina, you’re right! This nickname apparently derives from an old practice of abbreviating Columbia as Cola. The locals then referred to the town as...

When Pigs Fly (episode #1571)

Don’t move my cheese! It’s a phrase middle managers use to talk about adapting to change in the workplace. Plus, the origin story of the name William, and why it’s Guillermo in Spanish. And a five-year-old poses a question that...