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A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

Beefed It - 25 October 2021

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

A Way with Words

Language Learning, Society & Culture, Education

4.6 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 October 2021

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The words tough, through, and dough all end in O-U-G-H. So why don’t they rhyme? A lively new book addresses the many quirks of English by explaining the history of words and phrases. And: have you ever been in a situation where a group makes a decision to do something, only to discover later that no one really wanted to do that thing in the first place? There’s a term for that! Plus, the sounds we make when we’re simply passing the time or waiting a few seconds for something to happen. It can sound like a “whoosh” or barely audible humming or even the theme from Jeopardy! Also, toe the line vs. tow the line, Dirty Gertie, one Mississippi vs. one Piccadilly, cardboard dog vs. rubber duck, sand-hundred, beefed it, a rhyming puzzle, and doofus, and more. All that for under a buck three-eighty! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

All right, I'm Jack Greenlich.

0:02.0

I think you can listen to music from relaxing to celebrating, to getting yourself prepared.

0:08.0

I like all sorts, honestly. I like hip-hop, R&B, and then house music as well.

0:13.0

So yeah, there's no guilt with pleasure as R&D.

0:15.0

Jack wears the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones, enjoying his favourite music,

0:20.0

with more immersive sounds than ever before.

0:23.0

Wow, the music's just everything, isn't it?

0:25.0

Get yours at Bose.co.uk.

0:27.0

Bose, sound is power.

0:30.0

You're listening to away with words, the show about language, and how we use it. I'm Grant Barrett.

0:35.0

And I'm Martha Barnett. I learned a handy new term the other day, the Abelene Paradox.

0:41.0

As an Abelene Texas?

0:42.0

As an Abelene Texas. There's a story behind it. It really happens. So picture this.

0:48.0

It's a hot, dusty summer day in small town west Texas.

0:53.0

And there's a married couple and they're in-laws and they're sitting out on a porch

0:57.0

and they're running a fan and sipping lemonade, just trying to keep cool.

1:01.0

And there's nothing really much to do except sit there and play a lazy game of dominoes,

1:06.0

just wiping the sweat from your brow.

1:10.0

And at some point the father-in-law pipes up with, let's get in the car and go to Abelene

1:15.0

and have dinner in the cafeteria.

1:17.0

So it's 53 miles away. It's this hot, dusty afternoon in a car with no air conditioning.

1:24.0

And the daughter chimes in. Oh, it sounds like a great idea.

...

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