*Cough cough*... This week Susie and Gyles explore the language of diseases. From Cholera to Mumps, and Malaria to Influenza, they have you covered. Also, we reveal the WINNERS of our 'To Dent' and 'To Brandreth' competition! We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by clicking the...

This week, Susie and Gyles unravel the intricate history of dictionaries, those indispensable guides that serve as gateways to language. From ancient lexicons to modern compendiums, we explore how dictionaries have shaped our understanding of words and the world around us. And Gyles lets us know how his weight lifting is going... We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our email address here:...

This week Susie and Gyles get lost in the world of nonsensical language, and embrace the weird, wacky and wonderful ways the English language can be. Your favourite duo also pay homage to the masters of nonsensical language – Dr. Seuss, whose fantastical worlds and playful rhymes have enchanted generations of readers; Spike Milligan, the irreverent genius known for his zany humor and inventive wordplay; and Edward Lear, the Victorian poet and artist renowned for his witty limericks and...

This week Susie and Gyles delve back into a favourite topic, shoes. Inspired by purple person Kevin, the origins of all manner of footwear are discussed such as Oxford's, Brogue's and Gibson's.  We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by clicking the banner in Apple podcasts or...

Sathnam has written Empireland and more recently Empireworld, two bestselling books which have garnered him critical acclaim, a Channel 4 documentary and which - even more crucially - have changed the national discourse around our colonial past. Without necessarily meaning to, Sathnam has become a historian. But his success has not been uncomplicated: he’s suffered horrendous racist abuse which has changed the way he goes out into the world (sometimes). On How to Fail Sathnam discusses how...

This week it's about the birthday boy, as we celebrate all things Gyles Brandreth.  Not only does Gyles spoil us with a plethora of his famous anecdotes, but he becomes the linguistics quizmaster and places Susie in the hot seat to answer questions from his book 'Have You Eaten Grandma'. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GYLES! You are truly one of a kind. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our email...

From the latin word dicere meaning ‘to speak, to tell or to say’. This week Susie and Gyles are looking at the ultimate word bible, the dictionary!  Gyles ponders the difference between a glossary and a dictionary.  And Susie delves into prescriptivism vs descriptivism  We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple,...

The 90s was a crazy decade, brimming with pop culture moments that defined Britain. Susie and Gyles discuss words that gained popularity in the post Cold War era, from Cool Britannia, to the Spice Girls, Dianamania to the World Wide Web...  We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by...

'A moo point is like a cows opinion, it doesn't matter, it's moo'. This week Gyles and Susie have fun looking at the influence that television has had on language.  Gyles gets nostalgic with some of his and his children's favourite UK and American TV programmes.  And Susie explores the words that were popularised by these household TV shows.  We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our email...

Flow it, show it, grow it! This week Susie and Gyles look at the history and etymology of all things to do with hair.  Gyles takes us down memory lane and tells us about when he used to rock a full facial set (head to our social media pages for pics!) And Susie does what she does best, by entertaining us with fascinating origin stories behind this luscious topic. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can...

Dive into the groovy world of etymology as we journey back to the vibrant decades of the 70s and 80s in this week's episode. Join Susie and Gyles and get ready to disco through the evolution of language, exploring the funky slang, radical expressions, and iconic phrases that defined these iconic eras. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here:...

Roses are red, Violets are blue, Love makes the world go round, And so does etymology too! Happy Valentines Day! This week, Susie and Gyles explore the words of affection we used in our everyday vernacular... From darling, to cabbage(?!), to sweetie, to bae - we find out where these cutie-pie terms originate from. Also, Gyles tries to impress Susie this week with (what he thinks are) good chat up lines! We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook,...

This week at the Purple HQ, we explore words that come from the swinging 60s! Hear all about Gyles meeting The Beatles in an Apple shop back in the day, and Susie unpacking extraordinary etymologies... We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by clicking the banner in Apple podcasts...

Join Susie and Gyles this week as we unravel the captivating stories behind the letters 'E' to 'L,'  in the second installment of our alphabet journey. We explore the rich history and surprising connections that have shaped our language, and of course indulge in Gyles' infamous anecdotes. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here: [email protected] Want even...

Have you ever spotted a beige flag in your situationship? Are you a die hard Swiftie? Do you think you've got plenty of Rizz? If you don't know what we're on about, Purple People, then you need to get with the times! This week, Susie & Gyles reveal the Oxford English Dictionary's 'Word of the Year 2023' and all the other words that didn't quite make the top spot. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can...

PURPLE PEOPLE! Today is an extra special day for Something Rhymes With Purple - we are celebrating our 250th episode! So to celebrate, we have decided to rifle through our glorious inbox, and answer YOUR questions. Thank you so much for tuning in each week, here's to the next 250! - from Susie, Gyles and everyone down at Purple HQ. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address...

Embark on a linguistic odyssey with this week's episode as Susie and Gyles unravel the hidden histories behind Mafia terminology. We explore the gripping meanings of the words that have shaped the clandestine world of the Mafia, showcasing how language itself becomes a powerful force in the shadows. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here:...

Happy New Year, Purple People! We're kicking off 2024 by flicking through the pages of Gyles book' 'Word Play'. Join us and join in as we unpack and explore odd and unusual words in the English language. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by clicking the banner in Apple...

NOTE: This episode is all about the LEGEND of Santa Claus. We advise you to not listen to this episode around young children. Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas Purple People! This week join Susie and Gyles as they discuss the legend of Santa Claus, and how this mystical figure has transformed through the decades. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here:...

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING PURPLE PEOPLE! Our journey throught the 20th century is not over yet... In fact, we've hit the halfway point! Join Susie and Gyles as we explore the war years and into the baby boom. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by clicking the banner in Apple...

Jump into the linguistic playground with Susie and Gyles as they spin through the magical world of alphabet this week. Join us for a joyous jaunt through the whimsical origins of our beloved alphabet. This week we go from A to E! We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by clicking...

Join Susie and Gyles as they unravel the origins and evolution of the captivating language that defined the 1920s and 1930s, from the slang of flappers to the colloquial expressions born out of economic turmoil. Discover the hidden stories behind the words that shaped an era, as we delve deep into the fascinating etymology of this transformative period in language history. We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you...

This week, Susie and Gyles dive into the linguistic time capsule of the early 20th century. Join in as they explore the birth of new words and phrases that shaped communication from 1900 to 1910, providing a unique perspective on the evolution of our linguistic landscape." We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here: [email protected] Want even more purple,...

Step into the linguistic battlefield with this week's as Susie and Gyles explore the origins of medieval armour terminology. Join us as we immerse ourselves in the rich history of words that once adorned the knights of old, forging a connection between language and the clangor of medieval warfare We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us on our NEW email address here:...