This week, Kyle and Emily are joined by special guest Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl, as they take a deep dive into catachresis, a word that stretches the very concept of meaning and walks the line between metaphor and malfunction.
Together, the trio untangles how catachresis functions when language falls short, collapsing analogies and forcing words to stand in where none exist. Along the way, they encounter rhetorical castaways, troublesome table legs, and metaphorical meadows mowed by razors. Plus: a taxonomy of misfires and mix-ups, from collapsed logic to John Cleveland’s precarious poetry to Sheridan’s pineapple of politeness.
What begins with a figure of speech ends in a full-on identity crisis for language itself. Join the conversation as the Grammar Girl herself helps to figure out where the meaning ends… and the misuse begins.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
You can check out all of Mignon's work at Quick and Dirty Tips. Grammar Girl is on YouTube, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore