Dirty Laundry (Rebroadcast) - 20 November 2023

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

🗓️ 20 November 2023

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When you had sleepovers as a child, what did you call the makeshift beds you made on the floor? In some places, you call those bedclothes and blankets a pallet. This word comes from an old term for “straw.” And: What’s the story behind the bedtime admonition “Sleep tight, and don’t let the bedbugs bite”? Plus, when grownups are talking about sex or money, they may remind each other that “little pitchers have big ears.” It’s a reference to the ear-shaped handle on a jug, and the knack kids have for picking up on adult topics and then spilling that new knowledge elsewhere. Plus, a word game, lick the calf over, lady locks, when clothes become laundry, towhead, build a coffee, and more. 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	This episode is brought to you by Deliverer because anything goes this Christmas. Yes, even sprouts on a pizza or gravy on sushi.
0:10.0	The rules are there are no rules. Have a Cantonese on Christmas Eve or a faulty
0:15.6	on boxing day and when you're so over the leftovers bring on the ramen.
0:20.2	From big brands to local favorites this Christmas it's all on your doorstep with
0:25.0	Delivereroo Geographical restrictions, Tees and C, service and delivery fees apply
0:29.2	You're listening to Away with Words the show show about language, and how we use it.
0:33.8	I'm Grant Barrett.
0:34.8	And I'm Martha Barnett.
0:36.4	A few weeks ago we had that call from Deborah in Gates, North Carolina, and she was asking
0:41.8	about the phrase that her husband used I don't want to
0:44.6	have to lick the cat over oh yes and it means you didn't want to have to do something
0:49.1	over right start again right and it was puzzling and we really puzzled over it and I don't think we gave her a good answer.
0:55.5	You don't? I don't. I think there's a second answer. There is a second answer.
0:59.7	But I don't know about a better answer. I think it's a better answer. Well for me it was this forehead-smacking moment because
1:05.8	we got a lot of emails like this one from Joy Beard who said my husband's an old
1:10.5	Tennessee country boy who says he knows the phrase is
1:13.6	lick the calf over and that's when I started pounding my head because of course
1:19.4	lick the calf over you know a little newborn calf newborn calf comes out and gives it some love, right?
1:25.0	Yeah, well, and she's licking the membrane off and it's a long-involved process.
1:30.0	Zora Neil Hurston used it that way, lick the calf over.
1:34.0	And I found lots more references to that phrase
1:37.6	than lick the cat over, which I-
	...

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