Discover what your hands have to do with manners, how the typesetters minded their p’s and q’s, why Gyles wasn’t allowed to issue the Royal Pardon and why some greetings comes at face value. Today, Susie and Gyles will be dissecting the language of formalities and etiquette where we will be taking a trip to court, making a few phone calls and wassailing throughout the evening. Toodle Pip, Ciao, Adios, See ya, Sayonara! We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @...
Nov 15, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 189
Recorded live at the Oxford Playhouse on Sunday 9th October 2021. Gyles and Susie explore the wordy world of Universities as they return to their University home of Oxford. Come discover what seminars have in common with semen, how gold tassels gave us the term ’Toff’, why the mortarboard and the pestle & mortar are linked and Susie shares the ultimate excuse for bunking off class early to go for a drink down The White Rabbit (an Oxford pub named after Oxford resident, Lewis Carroll’s Alice's Ad...
Nov 08, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 188
It’s a spooky one for you Purple People as we transcend to the world of the supernatural for an etymological seance with ghosts and poltergeists. Discover what blazing fires and the ethereal have in common, why we climb to 7th heaven and why the mystics are so close to their secrets. Susie will tell us why our faulty applicants give up the ghost and Gyles shares a story that packs a punch..of should we say, a fright! We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @So...
Nov 01, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 187
This is one for your sweet tooth (or is it sweet teeth?!) because we are heading to the pick’n’mix store for some sweet talk from Susie and Gyles. We’ll discover the link between bread and pastilles, what gyles’ favourite word lallygagging and lollipops have in common and what festivity the candy cane has to thank for its distinctive shape. Susie will hit the sweet spot each time as she gives us the origins of some of our sweetest phrases and Gyles shares the story of perhaps the worlds most ico...
Oct 25, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 186
Time to don your toque and get cozy in your bunnyhug Purple People because today we are beginning our North American tour and our first destination is Canada, Ey! We’ll warm up with a steaming bowl of Poutine followed by a double-double and a few Timbits as we get on the (etymological) road stopping along the way at Newfoundland and the ‘Capcity’, Ottawa. Talks of Newfoundland lead Gyles to share stories of his ‘most magical, musical’ evening at the theatre seeing a show about the island but tha...
Oct 18, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 185
Hello Purple People, have you ever found yourself experiencing a particular feeling or emotion and wondering, ‘there must be a word for that’? Well luckily for us, so has our very own Susie Dent! From the way to describe those blues you get on a Sunday evening at the prospect of work the next day - the Mubblefubbles - to that irresistible desire to do something unwise - cacoethes. Susie will take us through a selection of her favourite words from her new book, An Emotional Dictionary, so you are...
Oct 11, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 184
Welcome back to Something Rhymes with Purple for our first show in our Autumn tour! Recorded live at the Fortune Theatre in London, Susie and Gyles arrived with bells and whistles on for an etymological exploration into the world of bells, specifically the Capital’s Big Ben. There was much tintinnabulation (as much as Gyles tried to derail this) and our lovely audience of Purple People got to discover the links between cups and chimes, why bells were responsible for re-naming the belfry tower, a...
Oct 04, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 183
Don your armour and grab your steed, Purple people because today we are galloping onto the battle field to uncover the etymological treasures of Weaponry. From biting bullets to smoking guns, Susie will guide us through the link between rainbows and archery, what the Armadillo has to do with armoury and why freelancers weren’t always that friendly. Gyles shares some further behind-the-scenes details of one of the most watched events on tele which leads into discussions of corona (but not that co...
Sep 27, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 182
You heard it here first - we’re expanding our horizons here on Something Rhymes with Purple and welcome you to join us for not just 1, but 2 episodes every week. If you’re an Apple Purple Person, tap the banner in the app to enjoy a 7-day free trial or head to purpleplusclub.com to join us on all other platforms. As if that wasn’t enough, you will also get all episodes completely ad-free. Speak soon, Gyles & Susie. A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts ...
Sep 22, 2022•1 min
It’s time to take a trip to the bakery Purple People where we will run into Lords and Ladies, horses and testicles as we explore the shelves of bread. Come discover why the upper crust really is better, what bread rolls and parchment have in common, how lumps and humps gave name to Nubbys and Cobs and why having butter with your chip butty is essential. Gyles shares his latest ‘Oh Crumbs!’ moment and Susie tells us about her Sourdough Bread making adventure. It really is the best thing since sli...
Sep 20, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 181
We’ve spoken before about Susie’s, often fancy, water glasses that she sips on throughout the recordings… so this week we are pouring our thoughts into the vessels that we use to hold our drinks and have done for many centuries. Eavesdrop on us, with your favourite drink as we spill what we know about water vessels. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us here: [email protected] We currently have 20% ...
Sep 13, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 180
We’re always impressed with how Gyles manages to hot foot around the country with such speed, what is his fitness regime? So, it is back to the gymnasium this week, fully clothed this time, to discuss the many different forms of exercise from the equipment to the ever-expanding number of classes. Eavesdrop on us and hear how Susie demonstrates her burpee. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us here: purple...
Sep 06, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 179
Building on our recent fascination with cathedrals, this week we cast our architectural net a bit wider by taking a look at the other wonderful structures we walk past every day. Eavesdrop on us as we delve beneath the facade and open a window on everything from Bauhaus to Gothic, whilst being a little arch along the way. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us here: [email protected] We currently hav...
Aug 30, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 178
What’s small and red and speaks with a husky voice? A hoarse radish! (groan!) And Purple People, that’s what we have on the table for you today. We are exploring the condiments box so pull up a chair and get ready for some spicy chat! We’ll learn how a fishy trade with South East Asia gave us one of our most beloved red accompaniments, before we stop off at Branston Lodge in Burton-upon-Trent to taste one of the most popular pickles around. Elsewhere, Gyles takes us on a saucy tour of the Houses...
Aug 23, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 177
Susie and Gyles are going hammer and tongs at the English language today as they deconstruct the world of DIY… Come learn why the vice isn’t as vicious as it may seem, what the saxons and the saw have in common and why the “saw” also “see’s”. Gyles and Susie, share their despair at their own DIY abilities and although Gaffa tape is Gyles’ solution to all his DIY needs Susie explains why (at least in the DIY world) Gyles will never be ‘The Gaffa’. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhyme...
Aug 16, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 176
Put your best foot forward and join us as we march through the sole-ful language of shoes. There’s no loafing around as we find out what links your pumps to ocean liners, the beach snacks that lend their name to winklepickers, and the connection between the boot of your car and the boots on your feet. Plus there’s a rumour going round that Gyles wears socks with his crocs… or is that a load of old cobblers? We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhy...
Aug 09, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 175
Psssss psssss... Over here Purple People! It’s your weekly dose of the English language where Susie and Gyles let the cat out the bag about all those word myths you’ve always wondered about! And speaking about cats, today’s episode will be all about our feline friends. Gyles and Susie’s cats have been regular guests on the podcast so today, Susie will uncover the link between cats in bags and pigs in a poke, how an affection for the name ‘Margeret’ gave us our moggy cat and why being greedy led ...
Aug 02, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 174
Recorded on the hottest day of the year where better to seek some solace than within the cool walls of a cathedral? Take a seat as we take in the nautical origins of the nave, the link between the spire and an arrow, and we learn why you might literally be hanging on the words delivered from the pulpit. Also in the show, we answer some brilliant listener questions and Gyles recounts one of his finest tales about losing his grip in Canterbury Cathedral. We love hearing from you, find us @Somethin...
Jul 26, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 173
July is the 125th anniversary of The Tate Britain, one of the UK’s most established art galleries, so today on the podcast we are going to be dedicating an episode to Art and specifically, painting . We’ll discover what the connection is between the painter’s canvas and a cannabis plant, why the painter’s palette is linked to the garden shovel and we explore the painting style of egg tempera albeit with a minor foray into Japanese cuisine. Susie and Gyles dive into their own art collection shari...
Jul 19, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 172
We’re stepping up to the crease this week as we test our knowledge of the rich, and sometimes baffling, language of cricket. We discover the agricultural origins behind some of the terms, we find out the difference between the different ducks, and we have to admit to being stumped by some of the lingo along the way. As always we have a lot of fun, answer some of your brilliant questions, and Gyles signs off with a beautiful and poignant poem. A Somethin’ Else production We love answering your wo...
Jul 12, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 171
We’re brushing off our entomological skills once again as we revisit the world of creepy crawlies. Find out why ants in your pants is a bad thing but the ant’s pants is quite good. We also swap nostalgic stories of VW Beetles and we find out about a very famous person who still gets butterflies in her stomach when performing. It all creates quite a buzz. A Somethin’ Else production We love answering your wordy questions on the show so please do keep sending them in to [email protected] To ...
Jul 05, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 170
Today’s episode is fabulous in the most literal of senses as Susie and Gyles are looking into fables and specifically the works of one of the most famous writers; Aesop. In a slow and steady manner, we will learn about greed with the help of a goose and a golden cacklefart and how the combination of foxes and grapes can impart teachings on petulance. Be ready for many marvels, morals and myths as Susie and Gyles discuss the questions surrounding Aesop and his very existence. You will not be blow...
Jun 28, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 169
This week we’re embracing nostalgia and throwing open our trunks to skip through the wonderful world of toys. Along the way we discover the real Teddy behind the bear, where the word Muppet comes from, and why it’s not necessarily a good thing to be as pleased as punch. We also reminisce about trips to Hamley’s (some for business, some for pleasure), Gyles reveals the star attractions in his Teddy collection, and did he really meet the real Barbie and Ken? A Somethin’ Else production We love ans...
Jun 21, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 168
Here in the UK, we’re striding into summer - we’ve just celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee where people were quaffing Pimm’s at street parties up and down the country and with Wimbledon just around the corner, an episode on Summer Fruits seemed the perfect way to add some extra garnish to your summer excitement. We’ll discover what barbarians and rhubarb have in common, why you should carry a basket as a third wheel on a date and what could make you a ‘top banana’. Susie and Gyles share sto...
Jun 14, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 167
We’re full of energy this week as we fuel up on petrol (or should that be gas?) and blaze through the language associated with power and resources. Pop a few coins in the meter and join us as we discover the remarkable etymological links between electricity and amber and between fuel and focus as we discuss the Three Day Week and the origins of fossil fuels. A Somethin’ Else production. We love answering your wordy questions on the show so please do keep sending them in to [email protected]...
Jun 07, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 166
We are morphing from etymologists into entomologists today as we put the world of insects and other creepy crawlies under the microscope. We will find out why bees really are the busiest especially when it comes to the English language and what caterpillars have in common with very hairy cats. Ironically, Gyles finds the fly in the ointment when he tries to get to the etymological root of ‘fly’ and Susie shares the silver lining of always being bitten by mosquitoes - it’s wohlweh (the pleasurabl...
May 31, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 165
Hands and feet at the ready Purple People, today we are looking at the world of measurements. We’ll find out how Oxens’ shaped our measurement system, why you would have a different weight village to village and how a stick was the object to rule(r) them all. Make sure you aren’t one over the eight for this episode as Susie will be testing your knowledge of some of the stranger units of measure before we jump into the mailbag for some Purple Post featuring the voices of two lovely Purple People....
May 24, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 164
A highly enjoyable sift through the mountain of emails you’ve sent in over the last few weeks with some absolutely corking questions to answer. In this week’s footage we lurch from poaching to doughnuts (or should that be donuts?), we separate our vets from our vets, and we discover the meaning of ‘lief’. There are also musical interludes from hungry monsters, limericks, and a handsome trio of words to add to your arsenal. A Somethin’ Else production. We love answering your wordy questions on th...
May 17, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 163
You are in for a whale of a time today Purple People as we are jumping into the deep blue sea and meeting the fishes. We will discover why Halibut are holy, what Cod and weak beer have in common and we will also revisit that famous red Herring of a question: what is the plural of Octopus? Susie takes us on a beautiful trip to the Italian island Sardinia before we leap back into the ocean to join some Salmon fish to investigate their connection with salaciousness. Gyles shares a fishy story where...
May 10, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 162
Celebrating three years of Something Rhymes With Purple here are our favourite moments from the past 12 months on the pod. Join us as we remind ourselves of the fascinating etymological tales behind words like ‘naff’ and ‘tuxedo’, we relive some of Gyles’ most hair-raising anecdotes, and we explore the tribal language of aircrews and gamers. Plus we take the opportunity to once again hear the Purple People singing in unison… A Somethin’ Else production We love answering your wordy questions on t...
May 03, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 161
