While tinkering with a recipe is always good for a laugh and some interesting outcomes, so are the words that replace exact measurements with a more creative approach to food prep. Like, “Hmmm…should I add a tad or a dash?  A knob or a dollop?”

We like to say that Word Savvy focuses on words that kindle our curiosity, but in this episode we’re focusing on a topic that kicks it up a notch. We’re talking about pockets! They’re indispensable for us and scads of other pocket enthusiasts! 

Not only are pockets practical, they’re a fashion statement for some. But there is a mystique about them too, hence all of the language around the word pocket alluding to hiding things. In fact, deep pockets can lead to missing ducks as our listeners will learn.

An interesting debate continues today on whether a single dotted-cube is called a die or a dice. I default to dice regardless of the number of cubes I'm referring to.  Where do you come down on the issue?

I prefer to use dice for singular and plural as well. Die seems antiquated. It’s been a very long time since Julius Caesar supposedly said “The die is cast” in Latin or “Let the die be cast” in Greek.

Curiosity led us to wonder where chocolate comes from, other than the candy aisle.  

And looking at the word origin of chocolate helped us solve the mystery.  Every word has a back story which brings it to life and the story of chocolate is epic!

I can’t wait to dig into the “potato-in-your-shoe” story, but first let’s look at the word origin of socks.

I’ll say once again that every word has a backstory which brings it to life.  And the backstory of socks knocked my socks off!  

People were wrapping their feet with animal skins and plant matter from earliest times. But the word sock, meaning a knitted or woven covering for the foot that applies today, can be traced back to the Old English word spelled s-o-c-c meaning a slipper or light shoe. 

The word superstition sparks the imagination, like an old creaking door that when opened takes us to the world of the supernatural or one with superpowers.

And sometimes it just takes us to making a wish before we blow out the candles on our birthday cake or not opening an umbrella indoors.

We love to share the backstory of the words we feature here on Word Savvy, but in the case of superstition, we’re going to set the stage with a couple of familiar yet key related words: CHANCE and LUCK.

Why are we so fascinated with puzzles?  We describe our podcast, Word Savvy, as word candy.  Do you think that puzzles are a sort of irresistible brain candy? 

I guess that’s a playful way to describe puzzles. As a verb, puzzle means to confuse someone. As a noun it can mean a person or thing that’s hard to understand or a game or a problem designed to test ingenuity or knowledge.

A penny for your thoughts on the demise of the U.S. penny or rather on saying ta-ta to the one cent coin, its official name!

It’s a sudden, but not unexpected ending. After being part of our currency for 230 years, the last penny was minted on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia because of production costs. While I understand that it doesn’t make sense (he-he) to mint coins that cost more than their value, I’m a little sad to see the end of the U.S. one cent coin.

Our obsession with time is reflected in the extensive English vocabulary related to it - way too many words to cover today! But one word that stands out to us is the prefix chrono that defines linear time and came from Greek language and mythology.

Recently Dictionary dot com announced their pick for the 2025 Word of the Year and I don’t think I’m the only one who is a little confused by their choice.  It’s actually a number - 6 7.

I know what 10-4 means, but what does 6 7 mean? 

That’s a great question and the origin is a bit fuzzy.  It could be a reference to a song or a viral TikTok.  The sing-songy numerals are usually paired with upturned palms alternately moving up and down.  It is sometimes a response meaning ‘so-so’ or ‘this or that’.  But often it is just repeated randomly, usually by the Gen Alpha crowd.