Deep Fried Air (Rebroadcast) - 24 November 2025

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

A Way with Words

Education, Language Learning, Society & Culture

4.6 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 24 November 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Eels, orts, and Wordle! Sweden awarded its most prestigious literary award to a book about . . . eels. The Book of Eels reveals the mysterious life cycle of this sea creature and its significance for famous figures from Aristotle to Sigmund Freud. Plus, what's an ort? It's the last bit of food left on a dinner plate -- and whether or not you finish it can be a matter of manners. Also, an audio puzzle inspired by the popular game Wordle. Harder than it sounds! Plus ginnels, twittens, nerds, Not on your tintype!, piling Pelion upon Ossa, things to say after a sneeze, and a poem about elevators. Ta-da! Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org. Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443. Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443. Email [email protected]. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	While all the whos of Hooville were at McDonald's eating, the Grinch from his lair started plotting and scheming.
0:06.2	Girkin-flavored fries and odd socks will send them crackers.
0:09.5	So try the Grinch's new meal and head down to Maccles.
0:15.2	Until 4th of Jan from 11 a.m. price and participation may vary while stocks last grinched for adults.
0:20.3	You're listening
0:20.8	to Away with Words, the show about language and how we use it. I'm Grant Barrett. And I'm Martha Barnett.
0:26.9	On our Facebook group, Arlene Westhoven wrote, after certain gatherings, my family sometimes said,
0:32.9	I haven't had so much fun since the horse kicked father. Poor dad. Yeah, and that reminded me of the
0:41.1	one that I heard growing up, which was, I haven't had so much fun since the hogs at my little
0:45.7	brother up. No, they would too. Hawks can be mean. Yeah, you know that from experience, right?
0:54.0	Absolutely.
0:55.3	A lot of people chimed in with their own versions that they'd heard.
0:59.0	Ken Jones said that his family said,
1:01.5	I haven't had so much fun since the barn burnt down.
1:04.1	And Sarah Bradley said,
1:05.7	I haven't laughed so hard since Maggie fell out of the hearse.
1:09.6	And these are all usually sad when you didn't really think it was funny?
1:14.8	You know, maybe it's sarcastic. Maybe it's ironic. Or both. It's sometimes genuinely said and
1:19.7	sometimes sarcastically said. Well, we haven't had so much fun since the last time you called us.
1:25.1	So pick up the phone, 877, 929, 9673. That's toll-free in the U.S. and Canada. Everyone else can talk to us on Twitter at W-A-Y-W-O-R-D or email us Words at Wayward Radio.org. Hello, you have a wayward with words. Hi, this is Dexter calling from Huntsville, Alabama.
1:46.4	Hi, Dexter. Welcome to the show. Thank you.
1:48.2	What would you like to talk with us about?
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 5 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from A Way with Words, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of A Way with Words and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.