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

Pie in the Sky - 17 December 2012

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

A Way with Words

Society & Culture, Language Learning, Education

4.62.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 December 2012

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Looking for a book to read with the kids, or maybe a guide to becoming a better writer? Why are leg cramps called charley horses? And where’d we get a phrase like pie in the sky? If you happen to be tall, you’ve no doubt heard plenty of clueless comments from strangers. A listener who’s 6-foot-8 shares his favorite snappy comebacks. Plus, a word quiz for math lovers, bathroom euphemisms, johnny-on-the-spot, and the biggest palmetto bugs in the land! 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 ⁠words@waywordradio.org⁠. 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

British gas have this thing. We call it home care. We'll fix all sorts and its unlimited repairs.

0:06.0

Expert engineers will solve the upset of boilers not boilering or taps that won't wet.

0:12.0

Electrics playing tricks or a pipe that's broke. We're there for everyone. Even blue furry folk.

0:19.0

Your home won't feel booby-oby trapped. It'll feel just like new

0:22.9

British gas taking care of things and looking after you. T's and C supply excess options available

0:29.3

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

0:34.4

And I'm Martha Barnett. A couple of weeks ago, we talked about breaking up, specifically how do you decide when it's time to break up with a book? Maybe you've given it. I'm Grant Barrett. And I'm Martha Barnett. A couple of weeks ago, we talked about breaking up,

0:37.8

specifically, how do you decide when it's time to break up with a book? Maybe you've given it 10 pages or 20 or 50. Grant, you said you gave them 100, right? But you decide that it's just not working for you. What do you do? Well, we heard from a lot of you who said you were really relieved to hear that conversation because you felt less guilty about deciding to move on.

0:56.7

But my favorite email came from John Benbow.

0:59.4

John lives in San Diego, and he said he has a term for this when he breaks up with a book.

1:03.6

He calls it post-publication editing.

1:07.7

Isn't that great?

1:09.1

That's great.

1:10.0

And he says that he considers post-publication editing necessary in the absence of good pre-publication editing.

1:17.1

And he adds, many a book should have been an essay.

1:19.8

Many an essay should have been a paragraph.

1:21.6

Many a paragraph should have been a sentence.

1:25.1

Isn't that great?

1:26.0

John, I'm with you, brother.

2:01.1

Me too. And you should see that sentence. Beautiful semicolins throughout. It was great. But, you know, granted, it occurs to me that we should talk about the happier side of the romance with books. And that is specifically playing matchmaker, trying to fix somebody up with a book that we really love. And we'll do that a little bit later in the show, but I wonder if other folks would like to share theirs. Oh, I'd love to hear from anyone who has a book that they always recommend to everybody. What is your go-to book when you're trying to get somebody to read? You want them to read your favorite book. What is it? Novel short story. How do you convince them? What is the book? Send us us an email Words at Waywardradio.org or give us a call on the telephone, 8779-9-2673.

2:07.7

Hi, you have a way with words. Hi there. This is Gloria Braddock. I'm calling from

2:12.1

Indianapolis. Hi, Gloria. How are you? Hi, Gloria.

...

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