Something Rhymes with Purple

Sony Music Entertainment

Susie Dent and Gyles Brandreth invite you to enhance your vocabulary, uncover the hidden origins of language and share their love of words in this award-winning podcast.

We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us here: purple@somethinelse.com

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287 episodes
Updated Jul 23, 2024

Episodes287

Newest first

Oct 27, 2020 · 44 min
Sinister
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 20, 2020 · 42 min
Skiving
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 13, 2020 · 43 min
Snickerdoodle
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 6, 2020 · 45 min
Katzenjammer
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’.
Oct 2, 2020 · 5 min
Introducing... The Fault Line: Bush, Blair and Iraq
Hi Something Rhymes With Purple fans, we've made a show we think you'll like....On September 11th 2001, as he faced incalculable losses after the terrorist attacks that day, President George W Bush made a call to his greatest international ally: British Prime Minister Tony Blair. 18 months later, Bush and Blair led a coalition into a war that went horribly wrong.
Sep 29, 2020 · 38 min
Hot Beef!
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question” Eugene Ionesco Hopefully he’s only half right… but this week we are entirely in your hands and answering your enlightening questions that have been coming into the inbox in recent weeks.
Sep 22, 2020 · 36 min
Cackleberry
Atten-SHUN! Lace up your boots and join Privates Dent and Brandreth as we take a linguistic yomp through the world of army slang. Wearing their canteen medals with pride, Gyles and Susie travel from Civvie Street to the mess, breaking bread with a sky pilot, a fetch, and a fobbit, before donning their crap hats, taking advantage of a desert lily and heading off to their doss bags feeling utterly chinstrapped.
Sep 15, 2020 · 40 min
Vedettes
Having tackled the stars in the sky, this week we’re turning our gaze to the stars who walk upon the earth. From the first celebrities to Beatle-mania via way of the inaugural ‘It Girl’ we’re tackling the full A-List of famous terminologies. This gives Gyles the perfect platform for some legitimate name-dropping, we delve deeper into Susie’s Arsene Wenger brain crush, and we discover Oscar Wilde’s numerous and ingenious methods of getting noticed. We also find time to give a few listeners their 15-minutes of Purple fame by answering their language questions, Susie has a terrific trio of words, and Gyles caps things off with a witty poem about growing old. A Somethin’ Else production Susie’s Trio: Dew snail - alternative name for a slug Uhtceare - anxiety just before dawn breaks Sloom - to gently sleep or lightly slumber If you want to put a question to Gyles and Susie then email purple@somethinelse.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 8, 2020 · 35 min
Nutmeg
With the season kicking off on Saturday we’re lacing up our linguistic shooting boots and taking a dive (boo!) into the language of football… or should that be soccer? Either way Gyles is ‘taking one for the team’ this week as he plays more of a ‘cheese sandwich’ to Susie’s footie ‘fanatic’. She throws nutmegs, Panenkas, and Rabonas into the ‘mixer’ whilst deftly avoiding throwing him a ‘hospital pass’. In the second half we whizz through some fascinating club nicknames from the Mackems to the Toffees via way of a remarkable story involving a monkey (supposedly) meeting a nasty end in Hartlepool… As always we answer lots of your questions (and laugh/groan at your jokes), Susie has a tantalising trio for you, and Gyles reveals how he once played matchmaker for the ultimate football playboy. A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s trio: Flype - to roll up your socks before putting them on Sprunt - to chase girls around a haystack after dark Biffin - a deep red cooking apple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 1, 2020 · 37 min
Phylactology
Pssst… yes you… how do you fancy being a birdwatcher or perhaps a sleeper ready to wake up in time for the dead drop? Well, listen in and allow Agents Brandreth and Dent to provide you with the linguistic pocket-litter to avoid you blowing your cover. If you haven’t yet cracked the code, this week we’re discussing the intricate language of the murky world of espionage. Find out the difference between the Scalphunters and the Lamplighters, get your “shoes” from the Cobbler and join us as we go undercover and onto spook street… oh, and remember, it’s freezing in London today… When Susie and Gyles come in from the cold, they seize the opportunity to answer lots of your questions on pub names, the connection (or lack thereof) between the compass points and the news, and they flip lunch on its head. A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s Trio: Nuncheon - a drink to be taken at luncheon A fit of the clevers - a sudden spurt of activity when you notice the time Jack brew - a cuppa you make without making one for anyone else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 25, 2020 · 45 min
Boffola
This week’s podcast is an absolute joke… in a good way! Join Gyles and Susie as they whisk us through the history of the things that make us laugh. From the first recorded joke in history (newsflash: toilet humour is nothing new) to the best jokes of recent Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, prepare to guffaw (and groan) your way through the next 45 minutes. We’ve got chickens crossing roads, a banned Christmas cracker joke, the origin of Knock Knock humour, and Gyles keeps things ticking over by dusting off a few old classics as well as throwing in a couple of up-to-date rib-ticklers for good measure. In the second half Susie dives into the etymology of humorous language, from puns to shaggy dog stories, and always, sends us off with a trio of words to take into the week. Get ready to slap those thighs! A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s Trio: Bovarism - an unreal or romanticised perception of oneself Balatronic - characteristic of a buffoon Chawbacon - a country-dweller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 18, 2020 · 36 min
Dr. Johnson
Dictionaries, depression, a doctorate and a 311th birthday to celebrate…can you guess? Oh yes, this week Susie and Gyles are saluting one of their literary heroes: Doctor Samuel Johnson! We will journey from Litchfield to London and whilst liaising with the literary greats of the day (and falling in love) we will discover how Johnson's desire to halt the degradation of the English language gave us his dictionary.
Aug 11, 2020 · 38 min
Dwile Flonking
Cheers! This week we're looking for answers at the bottom of the glass as we drink in the history behind the fascinating names of the boozers of Britain. Like Chaucer's pilgrims we start at The Tabard before cantering through the rivalry between the Red Lion and the White Hart. We find a stowaway king inside the Royal Oak, a rather befuddled duck in Ambleside, and we wonder why Livery Companies always move in threes. Along the way there's time for Susie to get up on the bar and entertain us with her three words for the week and for Gyles to get soaked with Oliver Reed. A Somethin' Else production Please do get in touch via purple@somethinelse.com Susie's Trio: Vellichor - the smell of old books Umbriphilous - fond of the shade Bedinner - to give someone dinner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 4, 2020 · 38 min
The Milky Way
3..2..1..Get ready to launch into an episode that is out of this world as Susie and Gyles explore the language of outer space. Via the fast-flighted messenger Mercury to the saturnine tendencies of an overthrown Roman God, we explore how the planets came to be named and the legacy they have left within our everyday vocabularies. There’s just about time to stop off for a chocolate bar or two while Susie takes the opportunity to drop a celebrity name and Gyles discusses their compatibility… based entirely on their star signs… Susie’s Trio: Empleomania - Manic compulsion to hold public office at any cost Glump - To look solemn or glum Nibbling - Nephew/niece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 28, 2020 · 32 min
Mildred
Doctor, Doctor, I’ve forgotten to listen to my favourite podcast! This week we delve into to the world of non-medical doctors… from Dr Johnson through to Dr Dolittle by way of Dr Frankenstein, we explore the fascinating world behind all those who have had that title bestowed upon them… for better or for worse! Along the way Gyles recounts meeting ALL those who have played Doctor Who and Susie reveals the murky world behind medical slang. As always Susie has three new words to introduce to your vocabulary, Gyles drops a name or two, and much laughter is to be had amongst the learning. A Somethin’ Else production. Susie's trio: Nuncheon - a drink taken at noon Fellowfeel - empathy Empurple - to make something purple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 21, 2020 · 39 min
Humpty Dumpty
What do Humpty Dumpty, Contrary Mary, and Baa Baa Black Sheep all have in common? Well, you might think twice about reading them as bedtime stories, I’m afraid. This week, Gyles and Susie are delving into those centuries old Nursery Rhymes to uncover their - often sinister - meanings and possible origins. Expect ‘silver bells and cockleshells’ to sound less like gardening utensils and more like instruments of torture, and be prepared to have that image as Humpty Dumpty as an egg dispelled forever. If you would like to get in touch to share your favourite Nursery Rhymes with Susie and Gyles or debate any of the many origin stories linked with the Nursery Rhymes discussed today, please do get in touch at… purple@somethinelse.com A Somethin’ Else production. Susie’s Trio: Dispester - to get rid of a nuisance Fornale - to spend money before you have it Avidulous - somewhat greedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 14, 2020 · 40 min
Literally...
This week we officially became the Best Entertainment Podcast of the year at the British Podcast Awards. Thank you so much to all the Purple People who listen…you make this show what it is and we couldn’t do it without you.
Jul 7, 2020 · 34 min
Horripilation
From elite sports to class systems, it’s a hairy episode this week as Glyes and Susie delve into the history of hair which prompts Gyles to spill all on his past life’s involvement with the Porn industry. Via the astronomical, tribal and in some cases very bloody history of hair, you’re in for some fascinating tales or should that be "(pig)tails".
Jun 30, 2020 · 33 min
All That Jazz
"Music makes (Purple) people, come together." That’s not the only Madonna lyric that gets mistreated in this lyrical romp through the fascinating world of musical genres and phrases. We’ll be hip-hopping our way from the house (and garage) all the way to the discotheque to soak up the funk, with just enough time for Susie to channel her inner Wonder Mike and for Gyles to let his hips do the talking.
Jun 23, 2020 · 44 min
Plings & Bangs!
Join Susie and Gyles as they venture back to pre-biblical times to uncover the history of punctuation marks. This week we’ll be diving into the drama of the comma whilst teasing out the moments when the semi-colon provides the perfect pause.