When reading Geraldine Brooks’s novel March (Bookshop|Amazon), a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, listener noted the author uses both the phrases I held my peace and I would hold my piece referring to the act of refraining from speaking. Which is correct? To hold one’s peace refers to “keeping silent,” as in “maintaining peace or stillness,” as in the traditional injunction at weddings, or forever hold your peace. On the other hand, to say one’s piece means to give voice to one’s part of a discussion — like presenting a piece of prepared oratory or a prewritten position paper. This is part of a complete episode.
After our conversation about funny street names, listeners chime in with more: In Tallahassee, Florida, there’s a Frankie Lane and a Lois Lane; in Batesville, Arkansas, you can meet up at the intersection of Gwinn and Barrett; Boulder Creek...
Martin, who lives in San Diego, California, shares some of his favorite surfing slang, including A-frame, boosting, and gnar. He’s curious about the use of gangbusters in filmmaker Bruce Brown’s surfing classic The Endless Summer 2 to...
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