Word Routes 004

List of Highlighted Vocabulary

Note: If you don’t want any spoilers of our Word Route, only look at this list AFTER listening to the episode.

• back in the day: in the past, especially long ago
• bunch of: a large number or group of
• celery: a green vegetable with long crunchy stalks
• cliché: an idea or phrase used too often
• etymology: the history and origin of words
• folk etymology: a popular but incorrect explanation of word origins
• freelancer: someone who works independently for different clients
• hostage: someone held prisoner to force demands
• How so?: In what way?
• in-joke: a joke understood only by certain people with a shared background
• knight: a medieval soldier with a noble title
• lance: a long weapon used by mounted knights
• loan: money borrowed and later repaid
• mortgage: a loan used to buy property like a house
• mutton: meat from an adult sheep
• pawn broker: someone lending money in exchange for valuable objects
• pawn shop: a shop lending money for valuable objects
• pledge: a serious promise
• salary: regular money paid for a job
• salt: a white substance used to flavor food, salt & pepper
• salt mine: a place where salt is extracted underground
• salted: having salt added to it
• sausage: seasoned meat
• sausage fest: an event or party with far more men than women… too many “sausages”!
• spear: a long weapon with a pointed end
• The Mandolorian & Grogu: a 2026 Star Wars film
• to barter: to exchange goods without using money
• to castrate: to remove a male’s testicles
• to coin a word: to create a new word
• to evaporate: to change from liquid into gas
• to get cold feet: to become nervous and change your mind (especially before a wedding)
• to go off the rails: to become uncontrolled or leave the main topic
• to hypothecate: to offer property as security for debt
• to pawn: to exchange an object temporarily for money
• to wage war: to fight or conduct a war
• wage: money paid for work, usually by hour
• wedding: a ceremony where people get married