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

The Last Straw (Rebroadcast) - 11 November 2019


Listen Later

In this episode, books for word lovers, from a collection of curious words to some fun with Farsi. • Some people yell “Geronimo!” when they jump out of an airplane, but why? • We call something that heats air a heater, so why do we call something that cools the air an air conditioner? The answer lies in the history of manufacturing. • Also, quaaltaghsnuba, the last straw vs. the last draw, and to see a man about a horse.

Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/. Email [email protected]. Twitter @wayword. Our listener phone line 1 (877) 929-9673 is toll-free in the United States and Canada. Elsewhere in the world, call +1 (619) 800-4443; charges may apply. From anywhere, text/SMS +1 (619) 567-9673. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...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

2,137 ratings


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

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

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

3,017 Listeners

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

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,604 Listeners

The Best of Car Talk by NPR

The Best of Car Talk

16,512 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,333 Listeners

The Sporkful by Dan Pashman

The Sporkful

3,895 Listeners

Ask Me Another by NPR

Ask Me Another

4,939 Listeners

Gastropod by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

Gastropod

3,596 Listeners

Says You! - A Quiz Show for Lovers of Words, Culture, and History by Pipit & Finch

Says You! - A Quiz Show for Lovers of Words, Culture, and History

809 Listeners

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio by Milk Street Radio

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

2,960 Listeners

Go Fact Yourself by MaximumFun.org

Go Fact Yourself

833 Listeners

Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone by Lipstick Nancy, Inc. & Glassbox Media

Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone

4,005 Listeners

Proof by America's Test Kitchen

Proof

1,881 Listeners

Mobituaries with Mo Rocca by iHeartPodcasts and CBS News

Mobituaries with Mo Rocca

22,596 Listeners

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

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

87 Listeners

How To Do Everything by NPR

How To Do Everything

257 Listeners