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

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

Fun conversation with callers from all over about new words, old sayings, slang, family expressions, word histories, linguistics, dialects, word games, books, literature, writing, and more. Be on the show with author/journalist Martha Barnette and linguist/lexicographer Grant Barrett. Share your thoughts, questions, and stories: https://waywordradio.org/contact or words@waywordradio.org. In the US and Canada, call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free 24/7. Send a voice note or message via WhatsApp, 16198004443. From everywhere, call or text +1 (619) 800-4443. Past episodes, show notes, full search, more: https://waywordradio.org. A Way with Words is listener-supported! https://waywordradio.org/donate ❤️ Listen without ads here! https://awww.supportingcast.fm

Episodes

Tip of the Iceberg - 23 March 2026

March 23, 2026 • 53 mins
Why does the term vegetarian cause so much confusion? Some people assume it means avoiding red meat but still eating chicken. And is there a term for a vegetarian who also eats fish and poultry? Plus, screwball comedies from the 1930s mix slapstick humor and clever dialogue. But how’d they get the name screwball? And if you’ve ever wondered when exactly pigs fly, how about… on Saint Never’s Day! Also, ahead of the curve vs. ahead o...
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Blue Streak (Rebroadcast) - 16 March 2026

March 16, 2026 • 53 mins
How long can a newly married woman be called a bride? Does bride apply only as long as her wedding day, or does it extend right on through the couple’s silver anniversary and beyond? Plus, insightful advice about writing from a Pulitzer winner: Observe carefully, find what you’re uniquely qualified to say, and give voice to your own astonishment. And names of minor-league baseball teams are often a playful combination of nearby ind...
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Color Me Surprised - 9 March 2026

March 9, 2026 • 53 mins
Over the centuries, the meaning of happiness has traveled a long way. Today we speak of the pursuit of happiness, but it used to be that the word happiness suggested something that occurs only by chance–something that simply… happens. Plus, the joys and challenges of learning a new language in adulthood. And: Ready for an adventure? Then prepare for some boondocking. Or wallydocking. Or maybe even some crackerdocking. You’ll want t...
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I Don't Have the Spoons (Rebroadcast) - 2 March 2026

March 2, 2026 • 53 mins
Whether it’s a Rubik’s cube or a round of Wordle, why do so many of us find puzzles irresistible? A new book celebrates the allure and psychological benefits of brain teasers. Plus, powerful language for talking about the chronic illnesses and invisible disabilities that sap a person’s energy and focus. And what would you wear to a wet dress rehearsal? (Hint: You’ll need a helmet.) Plus ditloid, eat a peck of dirt before you die, a...
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Turn on a Dime - 23 February 2026

February 23, 2026 • 53 mins
Every subculture has its own secret lingo, whether you’re talking about surfers, cab drivers, or coffee-shop baristas. A new book uncovers the slang of everyone from stunt performers to department-store Santas and more. Plus, why is English so darn weird? Those odd spellings and weird pronunciations form a fascinating fossil record. And: a quiz where the actual object of the game is to spell words Incorrectly! Also, clabberhead, ea...
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Excuse the Hogs (Rebroadcast) - 16 February 2026

February 16, 2026 • 53 mins
When a teenager went a week without talking as part of a school project, he noticed a surprising side effect: Instead of rehearsing a response to what other people were saying to him, he was focused on listening — and feeling smarter as a result. Plus, a flight attendant is irritated by a certain term she has to use frequently with passengers. Might there be a better word than de-plane? And how do you pronounce the name of the Show...
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Sweet Science - 9 February 2026

February 9, 2026 • 53 mins
Why is boxing called the sweet science when it’s obviously such a bruising sport? Also, a mother of five is baffled when her Gen Z kids use words she thought she knew. For example, they call sweatshirts sweaters, and declare that’s so aesthetic. Recording that vocabulary in a journal now could make for amusing reading for the grandkids later. And: the person on your block who’s always the first to put out their trash and recycling ...
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All That and a Bag of Chips (Rebroadcast) - 2 February 2026

February 2, 2026 • 53 mins
We tend to take the index of a book for granted, but centuries ago, these helpful lists were viewed with suspicion. Some even worried that indexes would harm reading comprehension! A witty new book tells the story. Plus, the Latin term bona fides was adopted into English to mean “good faith” or “authentic credentials.” But there’s more than one way to pronounce it. And: say you’re off at summer camp, and there’s a container in the ...
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Use Your Noodle - 26 January 2026

January 26, 2026 • 53 mins
An acclaimed poet’s tender poem about holding a newborn for the first time reflects a complex swirl of emotions. And: A caller finds that in her workplace, the expression out of pocket can mean very different things: either “being unavailable” or “acting out of line.” Which is correct? Plus, if you plan on a long evening at a pub, better make sure you’re zebra striping! All that, and poosley, noodle, Black Beauty, verschluck, a let...
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Familiar Strangers (Rebroadcast) - 19 January 2026

January 19, 2026 • 53 mins
If you take up texting and social media late in life, there’s a lot to learn! A twenty-something wants advice getting her dad up to speed on memes, Instagram, and animated images. Plus, when you’re on a long road trip, what do you call that one driver you keep passing on the freeway, or who sets the pace for your car mile after mile? Road buddy? Some call them Follow Johns. Plus, the linguistic reason why some people say “SANG-wich...
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Word Hoard (Rebroadcast) - 12 January 2026

January 12, 2026 • 53 mins
Ever wonder what medieval England looked and sounded like? In Old English, the word hord meant “treasure” and your wordhord was the treasure of words locked up inside you. A delightful new book uses the language of that period to create a vivid look at everyday life. Plus, a shotgun house is long and narrow with no hallway — just one room leading into the next. It’s an architectural style with a long history stretching from Africa ...
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You Talk Like a Sausage (Rebroadcast) - 5 January 2026

January 5, 2026 • 53 mins
Do you refer to your dog or cat as “somebody”? As in: When you love somebody that much, you don’t mind if they slobber. In other words, is your pet a somebody or a something? Also, for centuries, there was little consistency in the way many English words were spelled. But long before the printing press helped to standardize spelling, powerful historical forces were already shaping how those words looked on the page. Plus, Irish wor...
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Pushing the Envelope (Rebroadcast) - 29 December 2025

December 29, 2025 • 53 mins
Sure, there’s winter, spring, summer, and fall. But the seasons in between have even more poetic names. In Alaska, greenup describes a sudden, dramatic burst of green after a long, dark winter. And there are many, many terms for a cold snap that follows the first taste of spring: blackberry winter, redbud winter, onion snow, and whippoorwill storm, to name a few. Plus, the family that plays trivia games at home may end up cheering ...
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Safe as Houses - 22 December 2025

December 22, 2025 • 53 mins
Temperature blankets are a visual and tactile mirror of the day’s weather. Knitters use specific shades of yarn to match daily temperatures, creating a colorful, cozy record of weather across time. Plus, a new book chronicles the history and uncertain future of modern dictionaries. And: try replacing the term bucket list with bliss list. It’s a great strategy to help you focus on finding joy in small, meaningful moments every singl...
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Minicast Bonus: Cocktail

December 19, 2025 • 7 mins
In this bonus A Way with Words minicast, Martha and Grant look into the myriad stories behind the word cocktail. Does the drink name come from feathers? Horses? Something up a horse’s rump? It’s a weird wandering down etymology lane… 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...
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Potatoes and Point - 15 December 2025

December 15, 2025 • 53 mins
If there’s a logophile on your gift list, you have lots of choices, including a new trivia game for language-lovers and a murder mystery for the word-obsessed. Plus, if someone calls you a schmoozer, should you be flattered or insulted? And if you’re on a road trip, there’s one place you definitely don’t want to get stuck, and that’s out where God lost his galoshes! Also, go around the Wrekin, kibitz, chemin des écoliers, grob, gun...
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Minicast Bonus: Down Bucket

December 11, 2025 • 3 mins
In this bonus A Way with Words minicast, Martha and Grant step into the historic streets of Marblehead, Massachusetts, where the simple cry of “Down bucket!” could serve as a kind of local password. After they ponder that and other language of “Headers,” you’ll cry “Up for air!” 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)...
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Primary Colors (Rebroadcast) - 8 December 2025

December 8, 2025 • 53 mins
Centuries ago, monks who took a vow of silence developed their own hand signs, with hundreds of gestures, that are still in use today. Plus, how do speakers of different languages distinguish similar shades and tints of colors such as red, yellow, and blue? It’s complicated! And: you don’t really need those little rivets on your blue jeans, do you? There’s a word for decorative elements that no longer serve a practical purpose: ske...
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Minicast Bonus: Picketwire

December 4, 2025 • 5 mins
In this bonus A Way with Words minicast, Martha and Grant explore the ways foreign place names transform on official maps and in local slang. Discover the stories behind names like “Picketwire” and “Key West,” showing how history and mishearings reshape the names we give our world. 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 (87...
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Drop in the Bucket - 1 December 2025

December 1, 2025 • 53 mins
A sumptuous new collection of poems about specific photographs shows how the moment in time captured by camera can inspire a verbal work of art as well. Also, why do we say that a quarterback got sacked? Plus, If you’re planning to vacation at a textile-free resort, you probably don’t have to pack much. Non-textile means “clothing-optional”—or even “clothing-free”! Also, the phrase turned off cold, a puzzle about funny irregular pl...
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