1017. How did British words find their way into American English? Author Ben Yagoda shares insights with us from his new book "Gobsmacked!" We learn about words like "brilliant" and "ginger" that have crossed the pond, some words you might think came from Britain (but didn't), which politicians are prone to using Britishisms, and why some adopted terms might sound more pretentious than others to American ears.

Find out more about Ben and his books at BenYagoda.com.

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From 'gobsmacked' to 'ginger': The British invasion of American English, with Ben Yagoda 28:46 Share

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From 'gobsmacked' to 'ginger': The British invasion of American English, with Ben Yagoda