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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Excuse the Hogs - 11 July 2022
Scooter Pooting (Rebroadcast) - 4 July 2022
All That and a Bag of Chips - 27 June 2022
Gold Dance (Rebroadcast) - 20 June 2022
By a Long Shot (Rebroadcast) - 13 June 2022
Familiar Strangers - 6 June 2022
Word Hoard - 30 May 2022
When Pigs Fly (Rebroadcast) - 23 May 2022
Cool Beans (Rebroadcast) - 16 May 2022
You Talk Like a Sausage - 9 May 2022
Love Bites (Rebroadcast) - 2 May 2022
Pushing the Envelope - 25 April 2022
Lasagna Hog (Rebroadcast) - 18 April 2022
Primary Colors - 11 April 2022
Kiss the Cow (Rebroadcast) - 4 April 2022
Deep Fried Air - 28 March 2022
No Cap, No Lie (Rebroadcast) - 21 March 2022
East Overshoe - 14 March 2022
Lead on MacDuff (Rebroadcast) - 7 March 2022
Herd of Turtles - 28 February 2022
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