Something Rhymes with Purple

Latest Episodes:

Sinister Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Skiving Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Snickerdoodle Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Katzenjammer Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

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’. As we Fall into Autumn, we find out why sozzled cads are bonking less and, avoiding the treadmill, we pour a large cuddle-me-buff, to embrace the hygge and snudge our way through the dreich conditions. Elsewhere Gyles picks three of his favourite words from Susie’s new book for our weekly trio and a very special guest delivers a word perfect Wordsworth rendition in honour of National Poetry Day. A Somethin’ Else production. If you have a question for Gyles and Susie then email purple@somethinelse.com. Gyles’ Trio: Hibernacle - a winter retreat Zhuzh - to make more exciting or attractive; add a certain je ne sais quoi Perendinate - to put off until the day after tomorrow.

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Introducing... The Fault Line: Bush, Blair and Iraq Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

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. David Dimbleby, one of the BBC’s best known news hosts and reporters, takes us back to those crucial 18 months. Talking to prime ministers, politicians, spies and weapons inspectors he asks how and why we came to invade Iraq. And as we experience an era of lies and mistrust - did the events of 17 years ago set the stage for the world we live in now? This is a Somethin' Else production.

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Hot Beef! Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

“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. In this correspondence special Susie and Gyles are tackling migraines with essential oils, finding out how chickens keep sneaking into phrases, and wondering who in the heavens was Betsy? Susie makes the ineffable effable and the whole thing 'pans out' to be pretty ‘decent’. Plus HOT BEEF will become your new favourite expression. A Somethin’ Else production Susie’s trio: Thermopot - a lover of hot drinks Pollicitation - an offer made but not yet accepted Lanspresado - the person who turns up in the pub having “accidentally” forgotten their wallet If you want to get in touch with Gyles and Susie then please email purple@somethinelse.com.

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Cackleberry Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

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. A Somethin' Else production Email Gyles and Susie via purple@somethinelse.com Susie's trio: Betwattled - confused or bewildered Hopper-arsed - having large buttocks Lobcock - a dull, sluggish person.

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Vedettes Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Nutmeg Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Phylactology Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

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.

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