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

Mystery Date (Rebroadcast) - 7 July 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

🗓️ 7 July 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A librarian opens a book and finds a mysterious invitation scribbled on the back of a business card. Another discovers a child's letter to the Tooth Fairy, tucked into a book decades ago. What stories are left untold by these forgotten, makeshift bookmarks? Also: a "cumshaw artist" is the wily member of a military unit who knows the shortcuts of procuring something for all their buddies, whether it's food or a borrowed vehicle for the evening. Plus, a handy Russian saying translates as "The circus left, the clowns remain." Also, scroll the window down, case quarter, Johnny pump, getting on the binders, telltale sign, maximums vs. maxima, shm-reduplication, and a funny 19th-century saying about the local know-it-all. Wishing you many happy returns of the day! 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

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0:00.0

The five-pound meal deal from McDonald's.

0:02.7

Get a cheeseburger or mayo chicken, medium fries, four McNuggets, and a medium soft drink for guess what?

0:08.4

That's right, five pounds.

0:11.3

It's not called the five-pound meal deal for nothing.

0:14.8

From 11 a.m., not available on delivery.

0:16.8

Carbonated soft drink upgrade fees apply.

0:18.3

Participating in restaurants, subjects of availability.

0:20.3

You're listening to Away with Words, this show about language and how we use it. I'm Grant Barrett.

0:25.2

And I'm Martha Barnett. In an earlier episode, we talked about items found in old library books,

0:31.9

like somebody stuck a four-leaf clover in there and forgot about it or an old receipt. And after that, we heard from Mack McClelland.

0:40.3

He's a volunteer at the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock, Vermont, evaluating

0:46.0

donated books for fundraising sales.

0:49.1

And Mack emailed us a photo of his all-time favorite find.

0:53.0

And it's a brief note on a sheet of binder paper,

0:55.9

and it reads, Dear Tooth Fairy, I lost two teeth by accident. And I was wondering if I still get a

1:02.9

prize from Carter. And Grant, you've seen this. It's the most adorable little note.

1:09.4

With all that little kid handwriting and all those little kid misspellings, oh.

1:14.3

Yes.

1:14.8

That just breaks the heart.

1:17.3

Does he get a prize?

1:20.0

And of course, it took a while to decipher it because he spelled tooth fairy T-U-S-E-F-A-R-R-Y and prize was P-R-I-S.

1:32.5

And it's painstakingly written in pencil.

...

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