That's What They Say Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
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- Educação
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That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.
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TWTS: Prone to be prone
You can be prone to do something, whether you're lying down or not.
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TWTS: Attend as many "trainings" as you like
There’s evidence of a new peeve arising. This one is focused on “training” as a countable noun.
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TWTS: An oft overlooked double possessive
Lots of people don't like the redundancy in "irregardless." However, no one's fussy about the redundancy in a phrase like "a friend of mine."
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TWTS: An ouster for the ouster
An ouster can be an act of ousting, or it can be the one who does the ousting. But we seem to have opted for one of those meanings over the other.
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TWTS: Need something? Manifest it
At this point, we can manifest our dream future, a good grade on a exam, or even a parking spot.
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TWTS: "Curry favor" comes from a horse (of course, of course)
Currying favor has everything to do with flattery and horses, and nothing to do with food.