A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
Society & Culture
If you skip wearing underwear, you’re said to be going commando. This bit of slang originated during the Vietnam War, when U.S. commandos had compelling reasons to do without that particular piece of clothing. Plus, Watergate salad is a mixture of pistachio pudding with whipped cream and pineapple. This dish was popularized in the 1970s, but what does it have anything to do with the scandal that brought down a president? Also: The practice of blurring out images or text in ads or movies helps avoid giving free advertising to a sponsor’s competitor. This strategy is called greeking, but why? The answer is Greek to us! All that, and buveur d’encre, clodhopper, a wild and wooly quiz, fantasy fiction, insure vs. ensure, live vs. stay, get outside of a meal,green goop, mean green, whale fall, and the long and winding etymological route of a name for “eggplant,” brinjal.
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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Herd of Turtles (Rebroadcast) - 21 November 2022
If Grandma Had Wheels - 14 November 2022
Mittens in Moonlight (Rebroadcast) - 7 November 2022
Diamond Dust (Rebroadcast) - 31 October 2022
Sleepy Winks (Rebroadcast) - 24 October 2022
Touch Grass - 17 October 2022
Made from Scratch (Rebroadcast) - 10 October 2022
Salad Days (Rebroadcast) - 3 October 2022
Funny Papers - 26 September 2022
Your Imaginary Boyfriend (Rebroadcast) - 19 September 2022
Go Bananas - 12 September 2022
Beefed It (Rebroadcast) - 5 September 2022
What in Tarnation - 29 August 2022
Forty Eleven Zillion (Rebroadcast) - 22 August 2022
Blue Streak - 15 August 2022
Mystery Date (Rebroadcast) - 8 August 2022
I Don't Have the Spoons - 1 August 2022
Sour Pickle (Rebroadcast) - 25 July 2022
Not My Circus (Rebroadcast) - 18 July 2022
Excuse the Hogs - 11 July 2022
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