Advertise on podcast: Enlarge Your Vocabulary

'.... rriiiiing ... rriiiing'  'Ahoy — Ahoy!'  'Who on earth answers their phone like that?'  'It's my new way of answering the phone.'  'Okay, that’s it — you’ve really gone bananas now.’  'Ahoy-me-hearty — Ahoy!'

'Oh, yes... the halcyon days were the best days.'  'I agree, but they wouldn't have been anything without the kingfishers.'  'Kingfishers?'

‘How could you say it was fortuitous that he broke his finger?  What a thing to say – that's hardly good luck!’  ‘Exactly... that's what I said.’  ‘No, you said it was fortuitous!’  ‘Yes, that's right, I ... Oh, have a listen to the episode.  You'll see what I mean.'

Deipnosophist ... and the story of how today's word became today's word!

Words in Action A mystery involving four words!

‘Look at old Roger out there basking in the sun — he looks perfectly copacetic.’  ‘Oh, do you think he should move into the shade, then?’

‘Matha, don’t you find Stanley a rather boring supercilious?’  ‘No, I don’t think so — I think he’s more of a super-silly soddiest.’  ‘Oh dear… is there such a word?’

‘Charge your glasses, ladies and gentlemen, and raise a toast   to the motto of the unhurried, who prefer not to seize the day but would rather—Neglige diem!’

‘Define oxymoron.’  ‘Sure… that’s as clear as mud.’

Impecunious : im-pih-KYOO-nee-uhs  ‘Fancy a bite to eat?’  ‘I would, but I’m feeling rather… impecunious.’  ‘Impecunious? That sounds expensive.’  ‘On the contrary, my good man—you’ll find it a wise investment… one that will come back to you a hundredfold.’  ‘Oh, really? Another one of those meals, I see.'

"Holy doghouse, Batman! This looks like a pet cemetery—with all these statues of dogs on the graves!’  ‘Not quite, Boy Wonder… you’re barking up the wrong tree.’  ‘Gosh—then what is it?’  ‘A mystery, Robin… and one worth uncovering.’  ‘Doggone, Batman, I have a lot to learn.’  ‘Don’t worry, old chum. This evening—after your hot milk and  cookies—you can find out by tuning in to tonight’s broadcast of  Enlarge Your Vocabulary!’ (dramatic music - and fade)

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of ‘We Get the Truth Inc’: ‘Chief, the algorithms are inconclusive. The lie detectors are  baffled. We simply cannot be sure he’s telling the truth.’ A deathly silence fell across the room. The Chief rose slowly. Steely-eyed. Stone-faced. Immovable. In a low, determined voice, he said, ‘Send in the Gregorios  Twins — Gregory and Gregoria.’

‘She has such a euphonious voice.’  ‘What? Nonsense — she has magical dulcet tones.’  ‘Blimey, next you’ll be telling me she has a sonorous voice.’  ‘You’re all wrong. Her voice is like honey to the ear —   smooth,  sweet and impossible to resist. In a word: mellifluous!

'I’m off to town, love.'  'Take care — it’s rough downtown nowadays.'  'No need to worry, dear. Big Brother has me — and everyone   else — under surveillance. They’re always watching out for   us.'  'Oh, yes, I forgot, aren’t they wonderful?'  'hmm.

'While Cupid sends arrows of love, watch out — cupidity can have a nasty sting!'