Your Imaginary Boyfriend (Rebroadcast) - 11 August 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

🗓️ 11 August 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We use the term Milky Way for that glowing arc across the sky. But how people picture it varies from culture to culture. In Sweden, that starry band goes by a name that means “Winter Street,” and in Hawaii, a term for the Milky Way translates as “fish jumping in shadows.” And: the history of naming rooms in a house. Some old houses have a room off the kitchen with only a sink and cabinets. It’s not a kitchen, exactly — but what’s it called? Plus, the colorful flag of one European town features a visual pun on its name. It’s a drawing of a hand holding a heart. All that, and head over teacups, humpty-twelve, lowdown, chockablock, overhaul, Desperate Ambrose, honyock, an imaginary boyfriend named Raoul, so mad I could spit nickels, and more. 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	If you haven't tried Abercrombie denim yet, you're missing out.
0:03.8	Denim should fit like this.
0:06.0	It's all about proportions.
0:07.7	Abercrombie has their classic fits and athletic fits for guys who want a little more room in the thigh.
0:13.1	When you find your staple fit, it'll be the pair you reach for day after day for every plan.
0:19.2	Shop Abercrombie denim in, in the app, online, and in store.
0:26.8	You're listening to Away with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
0:30.8	I'm Grant Barrett.
0:32.0	And I'm Martha Barnett.
0:33.4	Not that long ago, we were talking about indefinite hyperbolic numerals.
0:37.8	You remember that conversation, Grant?
0:39.7	Right.
0:40.1	4011, zillions, jillions, and all those other approximate numbers.
0:44.7	Right, those indefinite approximate numbers.
0:47.8	Well, a couple of weeks ago, I was visiting family in the mountains of North Carolina,
0:52.5	and I heard another one that I really love and I'm going
0:56.0	to adopt, which is Humpty 12.
1:01.3	Humpty 12. About a dozen, but maybe not a dozen, a little more, a little less.
1:06.4	A whole, yeah, yeah. You know, I went on vacation and I came back and there were Humpty 12 pieces of junk mail.
1:13.0	Sounds like a cousin of Upteen.
1:15.1	Yes, I think it probably is, but it just, I don't know, it's just something delicious to roll around on your tongue.
1:22.2	And you know what? I was also looking around a little bit more, and you may be familiar with this one.
	...

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