Light-hearted conversation with callers from all over about new words, old sayings, slang, family ex
The dilemma continues over how to spell dilemma! Grant and Martha try to suss out the backstory of w
What other names could a team use if they realize it’s time to give up calling themselves the “Redsk
Can language change bad behavior in crowded places? The Irish Railway system has launched an ad camp
If you think they refer to umbrellas as bumbershoots in the UK, think again. The word bumbershoot ac
According to Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, it’s important to master the basics of writing, but ther
Why isn’t “you’re welcome” the default response to “thank you” for everyone? Plus lies that kids tel
What’s in a mascot name? Maybe you’re a fan of the Banana Slugs, or you cheer for the Winged Beavers
The slang coming out of Victorian mouths was more colorful than you might think. A 1909 collection o
The highly specialized vocabulary of people who work outdoors, communicating with sled dogs, a word
The origins of the peace symbol, why we say someone who’s enthusiastic is gung ho, a tasty spin on s
Gerrymandering draws political boundaries to tip elections towards certain political parties. Origin
The only time you'll ever see the sun's outer atmosphere is during a full solar eclipse, when sun it
A second-generation Filipino-American finds that when he speaks English, his personality is firm, di
How many different ways are there to say you have a baby on the way? You can say you’re pregnant, gr
How would you like to be welcomed to married life by friends and neighbors descending on your home f
New research shows that you may be less influenced by superstitious behavior like walking under ladd
This week it’s butterflies, belly flowers, plot bunnies, foxes, and cuckoos. Also, writing advice fr
As a kid, you may have played that game where you phone someone to say, “Is your refrigerator runnin
What’s the best way for someone busy to learn lots of new words quickly for a test like the GRE? Loo
Why do we call a frankfurter a "hot dog"? It seems an unsettling 19th-century rumor is to blame. Als
