Rob Watts (RobWords)

The transcription software has thoroughly misunderstood what I meant when I said "I, like a lot of men my age, am a sucker for watches."

The latest episode of Words Unravelled takes us around the globe once again to explore the origins of global cities, from Granada and Medina to Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro. Take a world tour with @robwords.com and me! www.youtube.com/watch?v=foQR...

One podcast was simply not enough! My coauthor Shannon Miller and I started a casual little pod called Ms. Miscellany. For our first episode it's just us, but in the following episodes we'll interview interesting people about their career twists and the fun facts they've learned along the way.

I'm off to the Isle of Man! I shall be popping over to learn more about the resurgent Manx language. If you happen to be on the island, I'll be chairing a chat about what Manx can say that English can't. Mon 28th Sept, 7pm. Erin Arts Centre: www.erinartscentre.com/ Lesh yeearreeyn share, Rob

I can't wait to see what we unearth over the next 100 episodes, too.

We’re doing an episode of Words Unravelled on idioms from around the world, and I’d love some recommendations! What’s a non-English idiom you know, and what does it mean? Cc: @robwords.com

hey, word nerds! the next newsletter from @robwords.com is out now. i had no idea what the origin of 'utopia' was, so now i am more learned than i was 8 minutes ago. check it out here: robwords.substack.com/p/utopia-is-... also, consider subscribing to his YT channel if you haven't already!

Jess was on fire 🔥

Discover the [linguistic] source of your anger, your anguish, and your angina in my latest wordy nerdy newsletter: substack.com/home/post/p-...

If you know...

Just one show left!

The reviews are in! Tickets for my Edinburgh Fringe show are still available here: www.edfringe.com/tickets/what... Thanks to everyone who has already been.

The next Words Unravelled is a silly one.

🌊 It's a new WU! @robwords.com and I take to the seas with the Vikings in this episode about Old Norse vocabulary and grammatical influence in English. Check it out on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=La3t... Or wherever your cast your pods: audioboom.com/channels/512...

I've been having a lovely time in Orkney.

In Edinburgh for a couple of hours. Found ma poster!

WUUU! It's a new Words Unravelled! This time, @robwords.com and I practically go dada over art supplies, movements, techniques, and even rare Crayon colors. 🎨 Watch on YouTube or listen anywhere you pod your casts. ▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xi1... 🎧 audioboom.com/channels/512...

Trying to work out which 17th century accent can excuse rhyming "America" with "day".

@shadycharacters.co.uk Hi Keith. I run a YouTube channel about language (youtube.com/robwords) and am working on a video about the interrobang. I'm sitting with my copy of Shady Characters thinking "Why not ask Keith for an interview‽" Might you be up for a quick chat in the coming days?

New Words Unravelled! My mic decided not to show up to the program, but @robwords.com and I still sling some slang and have a fine old time. Give us our propers and take a peek: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HuQ...

I think the meaning of "exciting" might have changed a bit since 1884.

The original Maverick wasn't actually a maverick. But his cow was. My latest newsletter, featuring some 'untranslatable' words, too: robwords.substack.com/p/maverick-w...

And we're back! The latest season (or series, if you prefer) of Words Unravelled has begun. In this episode: Words like empathy, magazine, and casino mean different things in other languages. @robwords.com and I discuss false friends and false cognates: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA4d...

Yay!

We don't deserve stuff this good. Give it a watch.

I made Rob's Pretty Sauce for Cock 👀 (No wood, just the chicken thighs from Morrisons) This is *very* tasty, and it has that flavour I'd expect from a restaurant making old English food. The mace isn't as overpowering as I feared it'd be. Served with asparagus and triple-cooked new potato slices!

some of you never used a pilcrow for pre-wysiwyg markup word processing and it shows... Rob breaks down the symbols you take for granted today... @robwords.com youtu.be/cSsyG2pE-GY

Featuring @robwords.com!

I've spent all day writing about marmelade and haven't once spelt it correctly.

I spent part of yesterday trying to draw a sexy verb. Please make my efforts worthwhile by reading today's newsletter, featuring the glamorous origins of "grammar". open.substack.com/pub/robwords...

HEFTY NEWS! I’m taking my wordy nerdy show to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. I’ll be doing 10 nights at the Assembly George Square Studios from 6th to 16th August. I can barely ruddy believe it! I’d love to see you there. Tickets: assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/rob...

In his live show, @robwords.com talks about words that have been skunked, i.e., words definitions have become ambiguous or have multiple interpretations because of their usage. An interesting and relatively recent one is the use of "POV" in short-form videos. It's often used on videos that aren't …

I want this beautiful shorthand diagram on a poster.

We weedled the word out of him. Danny is fascinating. For goodness sake, give it a watch.

I wouldn't normally touch this kind of opportunity with a bargepole, but the personal touch has got me tempted.

It's worrying that I just allowed this man to feed me. The perils of filming at a Berlin market. From my new video about contronyms, here: youtu.be/wopcJoJIoJE?...

On Words Unravelled, @jesszafarris.com and I discussed the origins of "to beat around the bush". It relates to the practice of shaking a bush in order to scare animals out into the open (in order to shoot them), and I've just stumbled across this vivid reference of the process from 1672.

Today we shall make much ado of the anniversary of the birth of a true giant of the English language; measure for measure, one of the greatest ever to wield the pen. Happy Birthday @jesszafarris.com. I hope you have a day just as you like it.

Dærick's beautiful (and occasionally hilarious) artwork was essential.