Go Archives – A Way with Words

A Way with Words

About
Episodes
Podcast
Radio
New Event 10/20!
Contact
Your Support
Explore
- Recommended Reference Works
- Store
Our Mission

A fun radio show and podcast about language examined through family, history, and culture.

Contact

Ask your language questions: (877) 929-9673 or by email. More »

Listen

Podcast Apps • Radio Stations • All Episodes

Donate to A Way with Words. Your support makes the radio show and podcast possible.

Currently viewing the tag: "Go"

Go Home vs. Go To the Home

Posted by Grant Barrett on August 23, 2021 · Add Comment

A young caller from Austin, Texas, wonders: Why do we say things like go to the store or go to the park, but leave out the word the when we say go home? In this case, the word home functions as an adverb. The same is true for phrases such as go upstairs, go left, [...]

What the Blazes? (episode #1562)

Posted by Grant Barrett on February 8, 2021 · Add Comment

What kind of book do people ask for most often in prison? Romance novels? No. The Bible? No. The most requested books by far are … dictionaries! A number of volunteer organizations gather and distribute used dictionaries to help inmates with reading, writing, and schoolwork. Plus: For some low-tech family fun, how about egg-tapping? Traditionally [...]

Knock the Stink Off

Posted by Grant Barrett on February 6, 2021 · Add Comment

Suzanne from Tallahassee, Florida, is curious about her father’s expression: Let’s go knock the stink off, meaning something along the lines of “Let’s get out of here” or “Let’s go shake off the doldrums.” This is part of a complete episode.

Cut to the Chase

Posted by Grant Barrett on December 27, 2010 · Add Comment

This week: whether cotton-pickin’ is racist, unintentionally funny headlines, whether enormity can simply mean “enormous,” how a person can be “such a pill,” and pandiculation. “It’s good stuff, Maynard!”

Newsletter

Contact

Listen

Go Home vs. Go To the Home

What the Blazes? (episode #1562)

Knock the Stink Off

Cut to the Chase