When somebody sneezes, we say bless you or gesundheit. But suppose that person coughs. Are you supposed to say something — or are they? Plus, Mexican standoffs, gracious plenty, linguistic false friends, southpaw vs. northpaw, the slang of rabbit...
You’ve been reading a book but you’re just not into it. How do you quit it, guilt-free? How do you break up with a book? Also, what do you ask for when you go through the grocery checkout line: bag, sack, or something else? Plus, brung vs. brought...
Is it a good thing to be ratchet? This slang term can refer to a bumpin’ party or a girl who’s a hot mess. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Slang Ratchet” You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use...
Don’t bother showing up to a party unless you’re ringing the doorbell with your elbow. In other words, BYOB. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Ring The Doorbell With Your Elbow” Grant, do you know the expression, ring the doorbell...
Our Quizmaster John Chaneski has quiz based on animal sounds. What sort of wild party would a sheep throw? What five-masted ship do golden retrievers sail on? Tip: For this game, animal sounds are just as important as advanced vocabularies. This is...
What would you wear to an ABC party? Hint: the letters stand for “Anything But Clothes.” Any guesses what you’d wear to a tight-and-bright party? Martha gives a taste of the college party terminology from a slang collection compiled by Penn State...