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Scots-Irish “Whenever”

Some speakers of American English use the word whenever to refer to a single event, as in “whenever Abraham Lincoln died.” This locution is a vestige of Scots-Irish speech. This is part of a complete episode.

Robin Hood budget

Robin Hood budget  n.— «Now the government is talking about raising taxes for some to help pay for pension increases, but at this point at least they’re only talking about slugging higher income earners. (They’re dubbing it a “Robin...

Man-happen’in

Man-happen’in  n.— «Jessie Raven, 18, a December graduate from Lincoln-Way Central High School, is getting an education of a lifetime, spending four months in Beijing with her aunt and uncle. It’s a long way from Manhattan, or “Man...

Riddled Through with Riddles

Here’s a riddle: “Nature requires five, custom gives seven, laziness takes nine, and wickedness eleven.” Think you know the answer? You’ll find it in this week’s episode, in which Grant and Martha discuss this and other...

Sockdologizing

They were the last words Abraham Lincoln heard before John Wilkes Booth assassinated him: “Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside-out, old gal—you sockdologizing old man-trap!” Booth knew that this line from the play Our American...

who-laid-the-rail

who-laid-the-rail  adv. phr.— «All the time them gals up there in the loft a-screaming and carrying on to who-laid-the-rail.» —“William Edward Wilson” Abe Lincoln of Pigeon Creek , 1949. (source: Double-Tongued...

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