Something Rhymes with Purple

Hello and Happy New Year! This first week of January we are reacquainting ourselves with you lovely Purple People and replying to some of the questions, queries and quibbles that you’ve emailed in. From pelmanism to punters, from Guinness to Mustard we’ll be finding out whether a spendthrift is thrifty or spendy, and examining why you’d rather not go gallivanting with a gallant, even if he claims to be a gentleman.  Susie and Gyles also get a bit European (ooh la la), explaining why it’s rather gauche to call a woman zaftig, and recapitulate why one must always capitulate to an offer of poitín. If you'd like to hear Susie and Gyles answer your etymological inquiries then you can get in touch at purple@somethinelse.com. A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s Trio:  Flarnecking- vulgarly flaunt something January- the month of Janus, the Roman God who presided over doors and new beginnings  Rogitation- to ask the same question over and over again  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Merry Christmas, a Festive Merrineum and a Happy New Year! It is the end of 2020; a year full of covidiots, royal viruses and quaranteenies. This week’s episode has everything you need to get you through to the New Year. We kick off with the bare facts and the naked truth about Christmas cracker jokes, Gyles then puts Susie through her paces with some tricksy word games you too can enjoy at home, before we round up our SRWP Words of the Year for 2020. So get your pen and paper at the ready as Susie demonstrates why donkeys are a lexicographer’s worst nightmare and we revel in the words that have made us tingle with linguosity this year. A Somethin’ Else production. If you want to get in touch with Susie and Gyles to ask any questions, you can get in touch at purple@somethinelse.com. In “unprecedented times” we at Something Rhymes With Purple are immensely grateful to you, our listeners, for the year we’ve had. As Gyles has already said an exuberant “cheers!” to you a thousand different ways, we’ll just leave you with... Susie’s Trio: Belgard- a loving look, an amorous glance. Linguosity- a pleasure in using words, perhaps a little bit too much! Beblubbed- having swollen eyes from too much crying “Don’t be so beblubbed, respair is round the corner.” Happy holidays!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we are on an absolute rampage, alleviating boredom and staving off the Scrooge in the news as we acquaint ourselves with that master wordsmith, Charles Dickens. Gyles gives us a salacious biography and Susie demonstrates her aptitude for a career in talking books. Keep a tight grip on your podcatcher Butterfingers because we’ve got your number and promise book recommendations so perfect for a Christmas cloff, that it’s sure to give you the creeps…  A Somethin’ Else production If you want to get in touch with Susie and Gyles to ask any questions, you can get in touch at purple@somethinelse.com. Susie's Trio: Scurryfunge- the mad dash around the house to tidy up just before visitors arrive. confelicity- joy in other peopls happiness. sockdolager- the final blow in an argument that settles the matter.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Get wrapped up in your cosiest cashmeres and grab a glass of velvety vino and if you haven’t cottoned on already, today we’re going to be discussing textiles and fabrics.  Susie and Gyles will weave their way through our wardrobes discussing our silks to our satins. Through the world of fabric we’ll discover many things and lots of stuff as well as finding out what links taffetas and tabby cats, and why the best togas are always the most succinct. A Somethin’ Else production If you want to get in touch with Susie and Gyles to ask any questions, you can get in touch at purple@somethinelse.com. Susie’s Trio:  Firefang - scorched Bilbo - sword of exceptional quality  ‘-sby’ - suffix added to describe a person by their character trait. e.g. A rudesby is rude, an idlesby is idle, a sneaksby is sneaky.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode may not be suitable for younger listeners. Parental discretion is advised. This week we’ll be boinking, bonking, and banging our way through baby-making and its associated lexicon. Whether you prefer to make the beast with two backs or shake off the sheets, we Purple People aren’t here to judge. Gyles tells a fun buddy story from the ‘60s and Susie serves a decisive judgement on why you’d rather be Aphrodite than Venus. We’ll also be dropping F-bombs, developing an aversion to crumpets and discussing why Missionary life wasn’t for everyone… A Somethin’ Else production. If you want to get in touch with Susie and Gyles it’s purple@somethinelse.com Susie’s Trio Thankworthy- worthy of thanks or gratitude, meritorious. Concupiscence- strong sexual desire; lust. Microlipet- someone who gets all worked up about trivial things  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Suffering from a festive cold or a flu? Susie and Gyles have some (questionable) remedies for you! Come delve into the wondrous (and often disgusting) world of potions and lotions on this week’s episode of Something Rhymes with Purple. Involving witchcraft, and Kings and Quacks, as we ‘gild the pill’ with the ‘hair of the dog’, all taken, of course, with a healthy ‘pinch of salt’. We’ll also weave a tarantella through some infamous incidents of poisonous foul-play which piques Gyles’ fascination and leads him to ponder some rather murderous logistics… A Somethin’ Else production. If you want to get in touch with Susie and Gyles it’s purple@somethinelse.com. Susie’s Trio:  Snit - glowing part of candle wick after it’s blown out Snirtle - a suppressed laugh Roorback - false and damaging report circulated for political effect, usually about a candidate seeking an office  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Susie and Gyles are reporting on the names and origins of London Town - of England, Europe, The World, The Universe. Come wind through the streets of Susie’s old hangout in Soho discovering its connection to battle cries and the history of germ theory, we’ll then take the Tube north to see how bishops and cottages birthed the names of some beautiful spots in North London. Gyles will then act as lead guide as he tours us through his past haunts in West London and South of the river where the lambs of Lambeth, the Warriors of Barnes and the chalk of Chelsea all are remembered to this day.  This Black Friday (27th December) get 20% off Something Rhymes with Purple Merchandise. Go to purple.backstreetmerch.com and enter ‘Purple20’ at checkout. A Somethin’ Else production Susie and Gyles want to explore further afield, so send in your questions or discoveries of fascinating (and amusing) place names around the country and world for them to visit in their next episode on place names. You can get in touch at purple@somethinelse.com Susie’s Trio:  Parvanimity - Being of an inferior or ignoble mind  Sumph - a soft, stupid fellow Merry-go-down - a sip of strong ale  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

LIMITED OFFER: This week why not turn Black Friday Purple with a cheeky 20% off all merch on our website with the code PURPLE20. It’s not just Quality Street that’ll taste better in purple this year… head over to purple.backstreetmerch.com to peruse our delightful mugs and canvas shopping bags… the perfect stocking filler for the word nerd in your life…website: purple.backstreetmerch.com code: PURPLE20  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Oh the Grand Old Duke of York, he had ten-thousand men… but was his son a Marquis or a Marquess? To find out, join us under the marquee as Gyles and Susie climb the etymological pecking order this week, giving lovers of Downtown Abbey a look at why a Butler serving breakfast might be cause for concern. Gyles has a hoity toity anecdote, and Susie demands justice for the hussy and the villain. But if an Earl can be churlish, can a Churl be... earlish?  We want to hear from you! If you are a Bootboy with a bone to pick, a Beefeater with a bad reputation or generally have a bugbear about our understanding of aristocracy, write in and let us know: purple@somethinelse.com A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s Trio:  Pinchfart - A Miser, a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible. Bafflegab - incomprehensible or pretentious verbiage, especially bureaucratic jargon, that confuses more than it clarifies. Kvelling -  bursting with pride or satisfaction   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Little Strings, Little Tongues and Butterflies… what could Gyles and Susie pasta-bly be talking about?! In this episode we’ll be lobbing a bunch of pasta terms at the wall to see what sticks. We start by delving into ancient myths and legends to unearth pasta’s beginnings, Susie takes us on a trip to a brothel to serve up one of the most delicious spaghetti dishes of today, and Gyles shares his favourite pasta dish which comes with a little bit of apricity much to his delight.  A Somethin’ Else production This week we want YOUR terms for ‘the feeling of disappointment when you go to have a sip of coffee only to find out it’s all gone’ (even though you were SURE there was some left)… get creative and let us know: purple@somethinelse.com Susie’s Trio:  Paraph - The flourish on a signature  Paralipsis - Drawing attention to something when pretending not to Elozable - amenable to flattery   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we’re counting our blessings and saying our prayers as we take a look at the tales behind some of the patron saints and their language. From martyrs to miracles and from sanctity to sanctuary we unpick the blessed language of those who have been canonised. But if all that sounds a bit holier-than-thou, don’t worry because there’s still plenty of time to enjoy idio-repulsive belfies, tuck into a cannon of beef, and find out why you might not want to find yourself needing to pray to St Julian the Hospitaller. A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s trio: Drachenfutter - a gift given to a partner in order to appease them Poronkusema - an old Finnish measurement based on the distance a reindeer can travel before needing a comfort break Lagom - (Swedish) just the right amount If you want to get in touch with us please do: purple@somethinelse.com   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you’re easily grossed out then probably best to cover your ears for this one… in honour of the spookiest time of the year we’re digging around words with gruesome origins. From black books to black boxes, sarcasm to travel, and from loopholes to chivvying along, we uncover the often bloody backgrounds to these seemingly innocent terms.  We also recoil at those everyday words that send a shiver down our spines, Susie has a trio of words to remember, and Gyles tells some particularly gruesome tales involving Chevy Chase, Rod Hull, and a terrifying woodwork teacher. A Somethin' Else production. Susie’s Trio: Witches’ knickers - a term for plastic bags stuck in the branches of a tree Abibliophobia - the fear of being without books Balatronic - pertaining to a clown or a buffoon   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we’re heading back to school to discuss beaks, divs, rostrums, and to get to the bottom of why UK public schools don’t seem very open to the public. We discuss the benefits of an encyclopaedia education, why school is actually a leisure activity, and we debate whether it’s skiving, bunking, or playing hooky. Away from the classroom there’s lots of reminiscing about favourite school-related books and tv shows, and some rather grand claims to fame from both Enid Blyton and Jacqueline Wilson. As always, Susie sets her three-word homework for us and Gyles reveals some bizarre morning rituals from his own schooldays. A Somethin’ Else production Susie’s trio Poppinoddles - a Cumbrian term for a roly poly Nix - an instruction to stop talking because someone is coming Duck’s dive - another phrase for skimming stones  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

P-p-p-p-p-ick up a podcast… and join us as we spill the tea (both figuratively and literally) and get busy dunking biscuits into our brew. From the Wagon Wheel to the Jammie Dodger, Susie and Gyles unpick the fascinating stories behind the names of our favourite twice-baked treats, as well as finding a little time to reveal their desert island biscuits… and quite how many they can eat in one sitting. There’s lots to digest as we learn about hobnobbing Italian Generals rubbing shoulders with flightless birds in a nice French town. And Susie reveals why she steers clear of candles on a first date…   Later in the programme Gyles has a poem to get us through the darker days, Susie has her timely trio, and we get the chance to answer your myriad of questions including ones about jiffles and strops.   A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s trio: Bitching the pot - pouring the tea Gwick - to make a loud swallowing noise Omnistrain - the stress of trying to cope with everything in life  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

According to the great philosophers Heraclitus and Gyles Brandreth, “change is the only constant”. After an absolute Katzenjammer of a week for Susie we focus on change of all kinds, from the shifting seasons to what defines the ‘new normal’. As we Fall into Autumn, we find out why sozzled cads are bonking less and, avoiding the treadmill, we pour a large cuddle-me-buff, to embrace the hygge and snudge our way through the dreich conditions. Elsewhere Gyles picks three of his favourite words from Susie’s new book for our weekly trio and a very special guest delivers a word perfect Wordsworth rendition in honour of National Poetry Day. A Somethin’ Else production. If you have a question for Gyles and Susie then email purple@somethinelse.com. Gyles’ Trio: Hibernacle - a winter retreat Zhuzh - to make more exciting or attractive; add a certain je ne sais quoi Perendinate - to put off until the day after tomorrow  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.