8 Jun 2019

Word games: 'A Way With Words'

From The Podcast Hour, 12:25 pm on 8 June 2019
A Way With Words logo

A Way With Words logo Photo: Supplied

'A Way With Words' is a long-running US phone-in show that answers listener questions about the origins and use of interesting words and phrases. For example, when do clothes become laundry? Where does the saying 'high and dry' come from? And how on earth should you pronounce turmeric?!

This miscellany of mangled words and unusual sayings is led by two writers, journalist Martha Barnette and lexicographer Grant Barrett, with word quiz guy John Chaneski often popping up to pose little language puzzles for you to solve.

We play some of a recent 'A Way With Words' episode called 'Spill The Tea'.