A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over Sweet Science - 9 February 2026
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Feb 9, 2026 A lively mix of word history and quirky slang, from why boxing is dubbed the “sweet science” to regional pronunciations like jammies versus jommies. They coin binfluencer and unpack tech jargon such as lake house. Strange Planet alien words, cracking foxy noir slang, heart spoon anatomy terms, giacca civetta’s owl jacket, ragamuffin origins, and Gen Z vocabulary shifts all get playful attention.
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Translating 'Strange Planet' Alienese
- John quizzes the hosts translating Strange Planet "alienese" phrases into human English for comic effect.
- Examples include "you will diminish your sustenance needs" meaning "You'll ruin your appetite."
Noir Slang Lives On In 'Crack Foxy'
- "Crack foxy" in The Maltese Falcon pairs 'crack' (wisecrack) with 'foxy' (cunning) to mean a clever, devious remark.
- Grant traces the phrase to Dashiell Hammett and recommends Green's Dictionary of Slang for noir terms.
'Heart Spoon' Is An Old Anatomical Name
- The little pit at the base of the breastbone was once called the "heart spoon" in the 15th century.
- Martha contrasts this poetic name with the clinical term epigastric fossa.
