Carpe Diem - 21 September 2026
Summary
This episode of A Way With Words explores the origins of various idioms and regional slang, including the Southern term "hassling" for panting, the British phrase "a night on the tiles," and climbing slang like "gumbies." The hosts also discuss the agricultural roots of "carpe diem," the bridge superstition of sitting with the bathtub, and the Scottish etymology of "kerfuffle." Listeners share personal anecdotes about folklore, such as the "lucky white horse" charm and the concept of anticipatory nostalgia, while a quiz segment challenges the team to identify Greek letters based on word clues.
Topics discussed
Intro and the 'Next Tuesday' pseudo-sophisticated speech
Listener asks about the Southern term 'hassle' for panting dogs
Discussion on 'a night on the tiles' and pottery TV shows
Rock climbing slang: kook, gumpy, and their origins
The meaning of 'oofless' and being broke
Quiz: Greek alphabet words for common terms
Poet Becca discusses 'nostalgia for the present' and poignancy
Brief mention of 'griffinage' and sharing favorite words
German idiom 'um den Pudding gehen' (walking around the pudding)
Folklore of the 'lucky white horse' and spitting in the palm
Origins and misinterpretations of 'carpe diem'
Bridge card game superstition: 'sitting with the bathtub'
The expression 'get off your bike' and its history
Crick, creek, or crook in the neck: etymology of the phrase
Military pranks and hazing stories
Etymology of 'kerfuffle' and its Scots origins
Origin of 'Don't Mess with Texas' and show credits
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