A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
Society & Culture
Crossword puzzles are a marvelous mental workout. A delightful new book about them shares plenty of crossword lore and puzzle-solving tips. Also, performers who tell each other break a leg aren’t really hoping someone gets hurt. The phrase stems from an old superstition that involves saying the opposite of what you really wish. And: is conversate a real word? You bet it is! Prepare for some serious conversating about this very useful term. Plus, the origin of quesadilla, kill two birds with one stone vs. feed two birds with one seed, touch base vs. touch bases, the different impact of short stories and novels, no te comas el coco, in bocca del lupo, you ate that haircut!, and a brain teaser about itsy-bitsy anagrams that’ll leave your mind feeling pulled through a knothole backwards.
Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact. Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Twitter @wayword. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation.
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Niblings and Nieflings (Rebroadcast) - 8 January 2024
Book Moth - 1 January 2024
Kite in a Phonebooth (Rebroadcast) - 25 December 2023
Strawberry Moon (Rebroadcast) - 11 December 2023
Highway Robbery - 4 December 2023
Spill the Tea (Rebroadcast) - 27 November 2023
Dirty Laundry (Rebroadcast) - 20 November 2023
Strong Coffee - 13 November 2023
Keep Your Powder Dry (Rebroadcast) - 6 November 2023
One-Armed Paper Hanger (Rebroadcast) - 30 October 2023
Hair on Your Tongue (Rebroadcast) - 23 October 2023
Train of Thought (Rebroadcast) - 16 October 2023
Space Cadet (Rebroadcast) - 9 October 2023
Howling Fantods (Rebroadcast) - 2 October 2023
Pizza Bones - 25 September 2023
Bottled Sunshine (Rebroadcast) - 18 September 2023
Endless Summer - 11 September 2023
Care Package (Rebroadcast) - 4 September 2023
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