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Synopsis
Presented by Victoria Coren, it was companion to the Oxford English Dictionary's Wordhunt, in which the writers of the dictionary asked the public for help in finding the origins and first known citations of a number of words and phrases. The OED panel consisted of John Simpson, the Chief Editor of the OED; Peter Gilliver, who was also the captain of the Oxford University Press team in University Challenge - the Professionals; and Tania Styles, who also appeared in "dictionary corner" in Countdown.
Episode 8 : Fashionistas
July. 06,2007
The language of fashion is as changeable as the industry it serves. The OED needed your help with five fashion-related words and phrases, and in true style, the Wordhunt rose to the challenge and succeeded on every one. You heard it here first - Wordhunting is the new black!
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Episode 7 : Who Were They?
June. 29,2007
The Wordhunt looked into four eponyms - expressions which immortalize people in our language - and succeeded on pinning down two. In need of a pick-me-up? We also found the creator of the 'Bloody Mary'.
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Episode 6 : Put Downs And Insults
June. 22,2007
The OED politely asked us to assist them with five put downs and insults. We sparked changes with evidence for three words on the list.
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Episode 5 : X-Rated
June. 07,2007
Some of the most thumbed entries in the OED are those containing the naughty words. The Wordhunt tied up four out of the five word mysteries on the list, and - as an off-shoot of the Wordhunt - a word not on the list, 'dogger', was given a new sense.
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Episode 4 : Dodgy Dealings
May. 31,2007
From prison slang to gangster speak, the dodgy language of the underworld is colourful and inventive. The OED requested help with six dodgy terms and the Wordhunt nailed five of these.
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Episode 3 : Euphemisms - The Lace Curtain Of Language
May. 25,2007
The OED asked us to investigate how we prefer to call a spade a shoveling implement, especially when talking about sex, death or going to the toilet. They challenged us to help with five euphemisms and we managed four.
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