Terry Sciavo, in italian sciavo is pronounced SKIAVO but perhaps due to unpleasant association with the meaning "slave" the pronuciation has been corrupted. Ciao by the way is a corruption of "vostro schiavo"; your slave eg at your service.

I thought Christos was a vibration not a person or a title - did you know there are those who think he went east and learned chinese medicine (something liek qigong) which is waht the healings were.

Kristine,
Never say comprised of. It's just wrong, even though it's become pervasive in American speech. For example, the US government comprises 3 branches: executive, etc. You can also say, it's composed of 3 branches.

All corned up, which a caller's grandmother used to say, would refer to a horse fed a lot of oats or another grain (called "corn" in British English). The more corn it eats, the more excitable and headstrong the horse becomes -- useful if the horse is about to race, but not so good for a quiet ride.

fyi - 1982 edition of websters new world has disinterested defined as both 1. impartial, unbiased 2. uninterested

Would Dr O'Conner please discuss the extreme over-use of the word "like" by US teenagers . It is used 3 or 4 times in each sentetce . It seems to me to be a linguistic plague.

Hi Leonard,
Could you ask your guest to comment on the incredibly pervasive misuse of the word "got" in our current English idiom?
So many people have gotten into the habit of using the word "got" when properly the word "have" or "had" should be used, or when it should not even be used in the first place.
Ex. - "I've got to get going", should be said "I have to get going".
and,
"I've got the measles", when it should be "I have the measles".
Thanks for allowing me to point this out!
Eric

After the christmas party, do you "call in" or "call out" sick?

the use of "way" better than "much" better....please comment

Hey Leonard, I hear you say "I am well" frequently. Wouldn't that be using an adverb where an adjective should be? Shouldn't it be "I am good." or "I am doing well" when describing the verb?

It seems to me that in England, the greeting "Happy Christmas" is the most used, while here it is usually "Merry Christmas."

Now, I tend to say "Happy Holidatys" to avoid unintended insult or discomfort to those who do not celebrate Christmas.

Any thoughts on why it's "Happy" in England, not "Merry"?

And on the best way to wish warm winter solstice greetings to everyone (and, boy, would some Christians go bonkers in a negative way over being greeted with "Happy Solstice"!

Not holiday, buy seasonal: the last four months of the year refer to the numbers 7-10. Did the year once have ten months?

Talking of "take", what about the annoying invasion of "takeaway" among journalists and pundits?

Pat, I'm from the midwest, too.
Some folks (not most) would say, "My dad went hunting and brang back a deer."
I brang that with me to New York all the way from Nebraska.

"please to pass salt"? Sounds like Borat.

Please comment on what happened to the change in the use of the word fun, as in "I had so much fun at...."
How did it become "It was so fun" What happened to the adjective. I remember the change happening with my middle school age son 5 to 7 years ago. Thanks so much.

What's happened to "fun". When I was a kid, we had a lot of fun. Now, it's I had the funnest time. That hurts my ears. And, yes, I'm over 16!

mnemonic:

fArther Away
fUrther discUssion

Please point out to the last caller that he can "remember" these stories by playing them online for his family at their Christmas party!

About the word "until now." Does it include now or not? For example, if I say, "I have not celebrated Christmas until now" does that mean I do celebrate it now or I haven't and I still don't? I grew up in Montana believing it means that as of now, it's changed and I do celebrate. But my experience with British English speakers is that it means it's not changed and includes still not celebrating. Is it a British English/American English thing? A personal mis understanding?

When do you use, though as opposed to although?
Thank you.

Where the French "Noel" come from?

At least in modern Greek, the X symbol sounds like the letter h not k. :)

I doubt it would be k even in the older Greek, since the k sound is generally associated with bad things.

Christmas is still call "Jul" in Norway.

Regarding "bobtails": in the Stephen Foster song "Camptown Races" one of the lines goes "I'm gonna bet on the bobtail nag, somebody bet on the bay."

Regarding "bobtails": in the Stephen Foster song "Camptown Races" one of the lines goes "I'm gonna bet on the bobtail nag, somebody bet on the bay."

The most over-used, meaningless expression in Washington is "get something done." Does it mean bi-partisianship? No.

Is there a central web site broadcasters use to check grammar?

I was amazed at the number of local and network news people who said that Mark Medoff was "hung."

And is there a best site for audio of correct pronunications?

Another off-topic question - carryover from Brian's euphemism segment.

Is there a separate term for acronyms like S.N.A.F.U. and F.U.B.A.R. that are also used euphemistically?

Happy Holidays to WNYC & my fellow listeners.

Happy Holidays, Patricia and Leonard! I know today's show is about holiday words, but perhaps you will have time to address this question as well: how does one distinguish when to use "comprised of" versus "comprising"? A friend recently corrected my usage, saying (if I have this right) that people are comprising a group, but, say, a box could be comprised of toys and books. Apparently, as in"hanged" vs. "hung", humaness is the deciding factor. Please clarify for me.
Thank you!