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

Hot Dog, Cold Turkey (Rebroadcast) - 10 June 2019


Listen Later

Why do we call a frankfurter a "hot dog"? It seems an unsettling 19th-century rumor is to blame. Also, if someone quits something abruptly, why do we say they quit "cold turkey"? This term's roots may lie in the history of boxing. Plus, a transgender listener with nieces and nephews is looking for a gender-neutral term for the sibling of one's parent. Finally, the words "barber" and "doctor" don't necessarily mean what you think. They can both be weather words, referring to very different types of wind.

Listen to all episodes for free: https://waywordradio.org/  Support the show to keep episodes coming: https://waywordradio.org/donate  Your responses, questions, and comments are welcomed at any time!  https://waywordradio.org/contact  [email protected]  Listener line 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the US and Canada  Text/SMS +1 (619) 567-9673  Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. All rights reserved.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all overBy Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. Produced by Stefanie Levine.

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

2,196 ratings


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

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,964 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,984 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,941 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,475 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,653 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,812 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,169 Listeners

The Allusionist by Helen Zaltzman

The Allusionist

3,019 Listeners

Selected Shorts by Symphony Space

Selected Shorts

2,875 Listeners

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters by American Public Media

The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters

3,075 Listeners

StoryCorps by NPR

StoryCorps

3,950 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,418 Listeners

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio by Milk Street Radio

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

2,996 Listeners

How To Do Everything by NPR

How To Do Everything

396 Listeners

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

113 Listeners