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The Year-End Edition

Greetings! Over the weekend, we played an archive episode featuring a special holiday quiz by John Chaneski. We also talked about “enormity,” “doorknob-hanging,” “cut to the chase,” and oddly phrased headlines. As...

Both and “Bolth”

A San Francisco man confesses he routinely pronounces the word both as “bolth.” Grant gives him the results of an informal online survey that shows the caller he’s not alone—some 10 percent of respondents said they do the same...

momarazzi

momarazzi  n.— «In the end, the seven girls stood near the dais for a round of applause. Seven proud mothers rose as one, strode forward and stood in a line, snapping photos. Coining a phrase, Mayor Paul Leon marveled: “That’s a real...

Hey, Ho, West Coast, West Coast!

Howdy, long time no chat! It's another newsletter from A Way with Words. Well, there are big goings-on here. Besides Martha and Grant gearing up for a season of brand-new shows, Grant just finished a 3000-mile move from New York to...

Stingaree

A San Diego history buff is curious about the word stingaree. This slang term once referred to part of the city’s red-light district, and remains the name of a stylish downtown restaurant and nightclub in the city’s Gaslamp district...