That's What They Say podcast

That's What They Say

Funner, snuck, and LOL are all things that we're hearing people say these days.That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan studies linguistics and the history of the English language. Each week she'll discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public All Things Considered host Rebecca Hector.That's What They Say airs Fridays at 4:45 p.m. and Sundays at 9:35 a.m. on Michigan Public and you can podcast it here.Do you have an English or grammar question? Ask us here!

Funner, snuck, and LOL are all things that we're hearing people say these days.That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan studies linguistics and the history of the English language. Each week she'll discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public All Things Considered host Rebecca Hector.That's What They Say airs Fridays at 4:45 p.m. and Sundays at 9:35 a.m. on Michigan Public and you can podcast it here.Do you have an English or grammar question? Ask us here!

 

#20

TWTS: A hangout is a great place to hang out

Next time you’re hanging out with friends, you can debate just how slangy the phrasal verb... more

13 Apr 2026

05 MINS

05:18

13 Apr 2026


#19

TWTS: Fore! It's a lightning round

This may be one of the only times that throw pillows, golf, and curling all get wrapped in... more

06 Apr 2026

05 MINS

05:16

06 Apr 2026


#18

TWTS: Humbled in victory, humbled in defeat

When we get schooled at something, we may feel humbled by the experience; but when we win ... more

30 Mar 2026

05 MINS

05:19

30 Mar 2026


#17

TWTS: When a reign becomes rain

When terror rains down, we suddenly have a spelling question.

23 Mar 2026

05 MINS

05:25

23 Mar 2026


#16

TWTS: The Declaration of ... Independency?

The Declaration of Independence could readily have been the Declaration of Independency.

13 Mar 2026

05 MINS

05:25

13 Mar 2026


#15

TWTS: Bereft or just lacking?

We can be bereaved, we can be bereft, and sometimes we can be both bereaved and bereft.

09 Mar 2026

05 MINS

05:18

09 Mar 2026


#14

TWTS: The wonky journey of "wonky"

There are a few different ways to be wonky, some of which are positive and some of which, ... more

28 Feb 2026

05 MINS

05:21

28 Feb 2026


#13

TWTS: Not all sounds resonate

The way some people use "resonate" doesn't resonate with all of our listeners.

20 Feb 2026

05 MINS

05:19

20 Feb 2026


#12

TWTS: If you're in hurry, you should scurry

If we’re involved in a hurry-scurry retreat or a harum-scarum dash, perhaps things are als... more

16 Feb 2026

05 MINS

05:03

16 Feb 2026


#11

TWTS: The right snuff

If you’re not up to snuff, you’re not up to scratch and maybe you don’t get a cigar.

08 Feb 2026

05 MINS

05:16

08 Feb 2026


#10

TWTS: A recurring question can reoccur

This week’s question has not been a recurring one, by which we mean it has occurred once a... more

31 Jan 2026

04 MINS

04:57

31 Jan 2026


#9

TWTS: For crotchety cranks who crochet

If it seems unlikely that crotchety people are related, at least etymologically, to those ... more

26 Jan 2026

05 MINS

05:10

26 Jan 2026


#8

TWTS: The American Dialect Society's 2025 Word of the Year is...

Given how much we’re talking about AI right now, it’s no surprise that AI-related words fe... more

17 Jan 2026

05 MINS

05:23

17 Jan 2026


#7

TWTS: Generics

Sometimes we don’t realize that we’re using a trademarked term differently from those arou... more

12 Jan 2026

04 MINS

04:54

12 Jan 2026


#6

TWTS: When language gets spicy

We can pepper our food or pepper our speech or, if the mood strikes us, we can be peppy in... more

02 Jan 2026

05 MINS

05:13

02 Jan 2026


#5

TWTS: Wishes for good fortune and days off

‘Tis the season to talk about "‘tis" and "‘twas" and, while we’re at it, "hap."

29 Dec 2025

04 MINS

04:49

29 Dec 2025


#4

TWTS: Keep your trousers, breeches, and pants on

If you’re too big for your britches, maybe you’re all mouth and trousers.

21 Dec 2025

05 MINS

05:10

21 Dec 2025


#3

TWTS: A brief history of pants

The word "pants" has oodles of good linguistic stories to tell, and that’s no pile of pant... more

13 Dec 2025

05 MINS

05:21

13 Dec 2025


#2

TWTS: Reeling in the small fry

It's a time of year when many of us are cooking and eating big meals together which may in... more

08 Dec 2025

05 MINS

05:00

08 Dec 2025


#1

TWTS: When downloading gets emotional

Now that we can "download" some "mashups," we should talk about how these words have chang... more

29 Nov 2025

05 MINS

05:27

29 Nov 2025