Pinned
Susie Dent
@susiedent.com
· Feb 27
Delighted to say I’ll be back on the road later this year with a brand-new show called Word Perfect. There are lots of dates - hope you can join me.
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.
This show will not disappoint: Simon is more passionate and knowledgeable about the magic of the movies than anyone I know.
Folks, I really need some help. For the last 10-15 days, I've been pretty much out of action, which has put me two weeks behind on promoting my Film Stories 500 show in London next week.
I'd be grateful for any help/support in getting the word out.
Thank you.
www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/wor...
I'd be grateful for any help/support in getting the word out.
Thank you.
www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/wor...
Film Stories: The 500th Episode Celebration • Words • Kings Place
Join us for a special evening as we celebrate the 500th episode of the Film Stories with Simon Brew.
www.kingsplace.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This show will not disappoint: Simon is more passionate and knowledgeable about the magic of the movies than anyone I know.
Reposted by Susie Dent
It's the Seasonal Reposting Competition! Repost this over the weekend, and on Sunday one lucky person will win a signed copy of one of my books. For you or the #crossword addict in your life: 50 fiendish @theguardian.com #puzzles and all the stories behind them:
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
November 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM
It's the Seasonal Reposting Competition! Repost this over the weekend, and on Sunday one lucky person will win a signed copy of one of my books. For you or the #crossword addict in your life: 50 fiendish @theguardian.com #puzzles and all the stories behind them:
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossword-bo...
We’re down to a shortlist of three names for the new bot in my word game Two Words! Thanks for all the brilliant suggestions.
You can vote here for your winner: playtwowords.com/namethebot
You can vote here for your winner: playtwowords.com/namethebot
November 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
We’re down to a shortlist of three names for the new bot in my word game Two Words! Thanks for all the brilliant suggestions.
You can vote here for your winner: playtwowords.com/namethebot
You can vote here for your winner: playtwowords.com/namethebot
We’ve introduced a new Bot in our word game Two Words, and it needs a name! Please reply with your suggestions (Botty McBotface won’t do).
For those who don’t know the game, here’s the link.
twowords2.page.link/play
For those who don’t know the game, here’s the link.
twowords2.page.link/play
November 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
We’ve introduced a new Bot in our word game Two Words, and it needs a name! Please reply with your suggestions (Botty McBotface won’t do).
For those who don’t know the game, here’s the link.
twowords2.page.link/play
For those who don’t know the game, here’s the link.
twowords2.page.link/play
Word of the Day is ‘catchfart’ (17th century): an obsequious individual who sucks up to the boss and always follows the political wind.
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Word of the Day is ‘catchfart’ (17th century): an obsequious individual who sucks up to the boss and always follows the political wind.
There is a moment at this time of year when the word ‘apricity’ really comes into view. For those who don’t know it, it was recorded only once, in 1623, before slipping out of view. Apricity is the warmth of the sun on a chilly day.
October 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
There is a moment at this time of year when the word ‘apricity’ really comes into view. For those who don’t know it, it was recorded only once, in 1623, before slipping out of view. Apricity is the warmth of the sun on a chilly day.
Word of the Day is ‘tandsmør’, from Danish. It describes bread that is buttered so thickly you can see tooth marks in it after every bite. Its literal translation? ‘Tooth butter’.
October 5, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Word of the Day is ‘tandsmør’, from Danish. It describes bread that is buttered so thickly you can see tooth marks in it after every bite. Its literal translation? ‘Tooth butter’.
To ‘ultra-crepidate’ (19th century) is to lecture others on subjects you know very little about.
September 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
To ‘ultra-crepidate’ (19th century) is to lecture others on subjects you know very little about.
Like many, I grew up with Woman’s Hour, so it was a special delight to chat with Anita Rani on Friday about Words for Life. It also made the weekend round-up if you fancy a listen here.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Woman's Hour - Weekend Woman’s Hour: Baroness Hale, Race Across the World, Cryptic pregnancy, Patricia Lockwood, Sudanese women, Susie Dent - BBC Sounds
The first female president of the Supreme Court.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 21, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Like many, I grew up with Woman’s Hour, so it was a special delight to chat with Anita Rani on Friday about Words for Life. It also made the weekend round-up if you fancy a listen here.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Today I offer a reminder of the word ‘forswunk’ (13th century): exhausted from too much work. To be ‘foreswunk’ (my own version) is to be exhausted before you even begin.
September 19, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Today I offer a reminder of the word ‘forswunk’ (13th century): exhausted from too much work. To be ‘foreswunk’ (my own version) is to be exhausted before you even begin.
Word of the Day is ‘snerdle’ (19th century): to stay warm and still beneath the covers for as long as humanly possible.
September 13, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Word of the Day is ‘snerdle’ (19th century): to stay warm and still beneath the covers for as long as humanly possible.
Delighted to say that my new book of words is out today, in which I explain how ‘sneeze’ was born from a mistake, that ‘window’ is a Viking leftover meaning ‘eye of the wind’, and that the Finns really do have a word for drinking alone in your underwear.
linktr.ee/WordsforLife
linktr.ee/WordsforLife
September 11, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Delighted to say that my new book of words is out today, in which I explain how ‘sneeze’ was born from a mistake, that ‘window’ is a Viking leftover meaning ‘eye of the wind’, and that the Finns really do have a word for drinking alone in your underwear.
linktr.ee/WordsforLife
linktr.ee/WordsforLife
Thanks to the wonderful team at the Hachette warehouse for making this morning’s mammoth book-signing a lot of fun.
Words for Life is out next week. I hope you like it.
linktr.ee/WordsforLife
Words for Life is out next week. I hope you like it.
linktr.ee/WordsforLife
September 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Thanks to the wonderful team at the Hachette warehouse for making this morning’s mammoth book-signing a lot of fun.
Words for Life is out next week. I hope you like it.
linktr.ee/WordsforLife
Words for Life is out next week. I hope you like it.
linktr.ee/WordsforLife
Word of the day is ‘tamalou’: a French name for an older person who no longer greets their friends with ‘how was your holiday?, but with ‘t’as mal où ?’, ‘where does it hurt?’. There follows an enthusiastic account of aches and pains and doctor’s appointments.
September 4, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Word of the day is ‘tamalou’: a French name for an older person who no longer greets their friends with ‘how was your holiday?, but with ‘t’as mal où ?’, ‘where does it hurt?’. There follows an enthusiastic account of aches and pains and doctor’s appointments.
An ‘ultracrepidarian’ (19th century) is one who loves to give their opinion, at length, on matters they know nothing about.
September 2, 2025 at 7:31 AM
An ‘ultracrepidarian’ (19th century) is one who loves to give their opinion, at length, on matters they know nothing about.
August 29, 2025 at 11:11 AM
I’m looking forward to another round of Two Words challenges! I’ll be taking on as many players as I can, so do join me, whether you’re an old hand or new to the game.
Details for joining to follow on the day.
twowords2.page.link/play
Details for joining to follow on the day.
twowords2.page.link/play
August 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
I’m looking forward to another round of Two Words challenges! I’ll be taking on as many players as I can, so do join me, whether you’re an old hand or new to the game.
Details for joining to follow on the day.
twowords2.page.link/play
Details for joining to follow on the day.
twowords2.page.link/play
Word of the Day is ‘theic’ (19th century), defined as ‘one given to immoderate tea-drinking; a tea drunkard’.
August 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Word of the Day is ‘theic’ (19th century), defined as ‘one given to immoderate tea-drinking; a tea drunkard’.
Word of the Day is ‘copemate’ (16th century): the friend in life who gets you through.
It’s one of the 365 entries in Words for Life, an almanac of my favourite words and etymologies to give (I hope) each day a boost.
It’s one of the 365 entries in Words for Life, an almanac of my favourite words and etymologies to give (I hope) each day a boost.
August 14, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Word of the Day is ‘copemate’ (16th century): the friend in life who gets you through.
It’s one of the 365 entries in Words for Life, an almanac of my favourite words and etymologies to give (I hope) each day a boost.
It’s one of the 365 entries in Words for Life, an almanac of my favourite words and etymologies to give (I hope) each day a boost.
Hosting the British Transplant Games at a sunny Blenheim Palace was such a privilege. Organ donation is needed now more than ever, and the results of such generosity were on display everywhere yesterday. To the audience of 2,000 or more, thank you. And to those who were remembered, thank you too.
August 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Hosting the British Transplant Games at a sunny Blenheim Palace was such a privilege. Organ donation is needed now more than ever, and the results of such generosity were on display everywhere yesterday. To the audience of 2,000 or more, thank you. And to those who were remembered, thank you too.
Sometimes the historical dictionary offers solace through the existence of an obsolete word that is sorely needed now. One of them is ‘respair’, recorded just once, in the 15th century. It means fresh hope, and a recovery from despair.
July 26, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Sometimes the historical dictionary offers solace through the existence of an obsolete word that is sorely needed now. One of them is ‘respair’, recorded just once, in the 15th century. It means fresh hope, and a recovery from despair.
A brand-new series of 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown starts tonight, starring Bob Mortimer (which is probably all you need to know). Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
9pm on C4.
9pm on C4.
July 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
A brand-new series of 8 out of 10 Cats does Countdown starts tonight, starring Bob Mortimer (which is probably all you need to know). Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
9pm on C4.
9pm on C4.
Etymology of the day: spiders were once known as ‘attercops’, or ‘poison-heads’, because it was believed most spiders were venomous. The ‘cop’ element became the ‘cob’ in ‘cobweb’.
July 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Etymology of the day: spiders were once known as ‘attercops’, or ‘poison-heads’, because it was believed most spiders were venomous. The ‘cop’ element became the ‘cob’ in ‘cobweb’.