Anyone who’s used to working under a deadline knows it can be stressful. At least today’s deadlines don’t usually involve actual death – that wasn’t always the case.

TWTS: When deadlines were deadly

That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.

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Wait, wait, don't tell me I can't wait on things.

TWTS: Await for it, or just await

While now we may think of being a bookworm as a positive trait, that hasn't always been the case.

TWTS: How worms of destruction begat worms of wisdom

Social media has made a couple of longstanding English verbs work or mean differently.

TWTS: It "ghosts" without saying ... well, anything

If you want to pronounce "homage" to a tee, it may depend what you mean.

TWTS: You can pay homage with or without the "h"

As we live our lives, there's some new slang words that can help us narrate it as we go. That is, if we're in a demographic that allows us to use slang credibly.

TWTS: When deadlines were deadly

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