

Something Rhymes with Purple
Sony Music Entertainment
Susie Dent and Gyles Brandreth invite you to enhance your vocabulary, uncover the hidden origins of language and share their love of words in this award-winning podcast.
We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us here: purple@somethinelse.com
Want more Purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by clicking the banner in Apple podcasts or by heading to purpleplusclub.com to listen on other platforms for ad-free listening, and not 1 but 2 episodes of the show every week.
You can buy our branded mugs, tote bags and T-shirts here: https://bit.ly/37huhqs
A Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We love hearing from you, find us @SomethingRhymes on Twitter and Facebook, @SomethingRhymesWith on Instagram or you can email us here: purple@somethinelse.com
Want more Purple, people? Join the Purple Plus Club by clicking the banner in Apple podcasts or by heading to purpleplusclub.com to listen on other platforms for ad-free listening, and not 1 but 2 episodes of the show every week.
You can buy our branded mugs, tote bags and T-shirts here: https://bit.ly/37huhqs
A Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 20, 2021 • 36min
Bulge Bracket
Bears, Bulls! High, Low! Buy, Sell! And welcome, Purple People, to another episode. This week we’re scaling the wall of Wall Street and trekking the Square Mile of The City as we climb the ladder of high finance!
Who knew that the world of bankers and brokers was so full of broken benches, brutish beasts and and bad behaviour. Are you a stag? Have you seen a dead cat bounce? Are you standing on a block of wood or hiding amongst the hedges?
Susie makes a death pledge while trying on a vest, but Gyles is too busy opening his kimono… confused? Don’t worry, so are we- finance is a whole new world!
Elsewhere we open some punny, porridge related purple post and receive some sage advice. So whether you’re anxious about being an IPOD or are a bit of a FUNT, we have something here for you!
Elsewhere Susie and Gyles answer your purple post! Who can claim credit for the word Barbecue- our money is on the Haitians over the French but get in touch with us at purple@somethinelse.com if this analysis has given you the mulligrubs.
A Somethin' Else production
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple
Susie’s Trio:
Lectory- a place for reading
Oxyphonia- Excessive shrillness of voice
Consenescence- growing old together Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 13, 2021 • 38min
Mappemonde
Happy Tuesday Purple People, how do we find you? Listening in the bath? Camped out under the stars? Out for your daily stroll?
If it’s the latter- well how serendipitous! As this episode we are taking a look at nation’s favourite pastime. Whether you’re a walker, a hiker or a orienteer there will be something in this episode for you. Susie strides ahead, boldly marches and struts her stuff through the linguistic latitude and longitude of all the walking words you can think of. She also explains why being a mountaineer is both an accomplishment and an insult… depending when one is given that moniker.
Gyles may trudge and traipse across a gentle fell but he’d never trespass, despite the etymological similarity. He also shares some classic Brandreth knowledge of literary greats whose works of writing are dependent on their walking!
Elsewhere Susie and Gyles answer your purple post! Who can claim credit for the word Barbecue- our money is on the Haitians over the French but get in touch with us at purple@somethinelse.com if this analysis has given you the mulligrubs.
A Somethin' Else production
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple
Susie’s Trio:
Guddle- To fish with one's hands
Moonraker- A native of the county of Wiltshire
Pinguid- A little bit oily or greasy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 6, 2021 • 39min
A Floral Balls Up
Well it’s a new week Purple People, and we’re coming to you from a very rainy July in England. Despite the grey and shortening days (thanks for the reminder Gyles), we’re bringing you a seed of summer with a lovely chat about flowers.
Susie reminds us of one of our favourite, most misleadingly named flowers - the Jerusalem Artichoke (do check out our other episode on Flowers called Edelweiss), explains why Poppies are poopy and an excellent symbol of the circle of life, and why orchids are a rather… ballsy flower.
Gyles bestows and adopts a new nickname- one that his wife may disapprove of- and reveals that he loves sunflowers and green carnations… he and Susie have a love of Wilde flowers in common!
Elsewhere we have more bollocks chat, answer your punny Purple post and, are treated to a poem from Gyles reminding us all to appreciate the rain in summer…
Susie’s Trio:
Paraph- flourish after a signature
Peely wally- feeling ratjer “meh” or under the weather
Kenspeckle- conspicuous or easily recognised
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple
A Somethin' Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 29, 2021 • 34min
Paronomasia
Purple People hello and welcome to this week’s episode! If you’re feeling a bit powfagged never fear, we’ll be guiding you through King of the Dad Joke, the “highest form of literature”… yes, we are of course talking about Puns!
Yes puns, or paronomasia if you’re being a real word nerd (which we always are). From our favourite famous punster William Shakespeare, to punny kebab shops (Abrakebabra, Jason Donervan) Gyles and Susie will be having a look at why we love them.
Elsewhere we get pedantic with pronunciation and answer your purple post- Charlotte is Trying, Katie is sick of the weather and Megan has sang a song? Sung a song? Susie and Gyles will explain.
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple
A Somethin' Else production
Susie's Trio:
Puzzomous- Disgustingly obsequious
Fratchy- Short tempered and quarrelsome
Nidorosity- Belching with the smell of undigested meat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 22, 2021 • 42min
Campus Martius
We have a very intense episode for you this week… Or rather we should say in-tents, because this week we are fixing the guy ropes and battening down the hatches as we Carry On with Camping!
Whether you’re a camping champion, prefer glamping with champagne or love to cook yourself a mushroom omelette over your fire pit, we’ve got all you outdoorsy-types covered.
Elsewhere Susie explains why you might find mosquitoes in your canapés and Gyles fills his noggin with knowledge of various noggins.
We also check in with your Purple Post suggestions of what one might call a “livretarian”, a “freeder”, one who partakes in “Partonage” or a “bibliosocialite”.
If you’d like to get in touch with Gyles and Susie then please do! At purple@somethinelse.com.
Try 6 free issues of The Week magazine worth £23.94 today. Go to http://bit.ly/SomethingRhymeswithPurple and use your special code PURPLE to claim your 6 week free trial today.
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple
A Somethin' Else production.
Susie’s Trio:
Gowl - to weep in anger or frustration
Glad-warble - to sing joyfully
Snirtle - to try to suppress your laughter (often without success) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 15, 2021 • 43min
Pocket Monster
Hello to our poor, powfagged Purple People! Aren’t we tired this week? Whether you’re sitting in digs having just dashed off staged or weary after a hard day at your sexy occupation, we are here for you! And this week we'll be guiding you through the entertaining and esoteric world of… video games!
Are you a fan of Space Wars circa 1977, or are you a 7th generation lemming? Are you a speed bump or a snowflake? Are you dying to know what, according to gamers, is the difference between a cow and a sheep? Well never fear, Susie is here to take you through fragging, Fortnite and respawning, while explaining just how silly it is to be salty.
Elsewhere Gyles is bamboozled by your Purple Post before sharing a lovely Martyn Hesford poem, reminding us all to "rip the sky open… eat the lilac flower… and breathe".
Susies trio:
Plothering- chucking it down with rain
Woofits- unwell feeling, or a slight moody depression
Princock- a foolish and conceited person
If you’d like to get in touch with Gyles and Susie then please do! At purple@somethinelse.com.
Try 6 free issues of The Week magazine worth £23.94 today. Go to http://bit.ly/SomethingRhymeswithPurple and use your special code PURPLE to claim your 6 week free trial today.
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple
A Somethin' Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 8, 2021 • 36min
Tattarrattat
Good day Purple People, we hope you’re all enjoying some summer sun and using your umbrellas the old fashioned way as we dive, this week, into the weird and wonderfully wordy world of James Joyce!
Whether you’ve read Ulysses, are feeling particularly uxorious or are listening while peloothered, we’re here to ringroundabout you with joy.
Gyles tells Susie how the sausage got made, Susie explains why a hobbledehoy is adorable, while showing our Purple People how impossible it is to not botch-up the pronunciation of Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunnt-rovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk. Go on- we dare you to try!
Elsewhere we remember Ireland’s fabulous literary history and discuss the banning of books, before answering your purple post.
Susie's Trio:
Twitterty-snip- State of nervous apprehension
Spumescent- frothy or foamlike
Gallimaufry- hodge-podge, jumble or mess
If you’d like to get in touch with Gyles and Susie then please do! At purple@somethinelse.com.
Try 6 free issues of The Week magazine worth £23.94 today. Go to http://bit.ly/SomethingRhymeswithPurple and use your special code PURPLE to claim your 6 week free trial today.
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple
A Somethin' Else production.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 1, 2021 • 36min
S.W.A.L.K.
The purple postman has arrived ready for a full episode of your correspondence. Today we’ll delve into the tweets, letters and emails from you all to discover what ‘clockwise’ was before the invention of clocks, the turbulent tale of the word ‘manufactory’ and Gyles shares many an anecdote of a younger Gyles using the pen to woo admirers.
Susie's Trio:
Begrumpled - left a bit displeased or affronted
Capadocious - splendid or excellent, Devon or Yorkshire
Strolloping - an old Lancashire word for going about in a scruffy, slovenly manner.
Try 6 free issues of The Week magazine worth £23.94 today. Go to http://bit.ly/SomethingRhymeswithPurple and use your special code PURPLE to claim your 6 week free trial today.
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple
A Somethin' Else production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 25, 2021 • 37min
Octopodes
Today we are getting all in a tangle (and we will be entertaining the 8 legged type that has fittingly titled today’s episode) as we dive into the devilish world of plurals in the English language. We will watch our one foot transform into two feet, see a solitary goose find some friends and become geese, and find out why a mouse does not multiply into meese. Susie is on hand to steer us through this confusing, complex and sometimes plain incorrect history that will take us from the Germans, to the Anglo-Saxons, to the Greeks. Together with Gyles, she’ll take a look at the moments of pop culture and technology that have also added an extra element to this convoluted etymological terrain.
A Somethin' Else production.
Susie's Trio:
Nuddle - to walk alone with your head held low
Croggie - to ride on the handlebars on your friends bike.
Slabsauce- person who enjoys eating fine food.
Try 6 free issues of The Week magazine worth £23.94 today. Go to http://bit.ly/SomethingRhymeswithPurple and use your special code PURPLE to claim your 6 week free trial today.
To buy SRWP mugs and more head to.... https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 18, 2021 • 33min
Neptune’s Dandruff
It’s all aboard the HMS Purple this week as Admirals Dent and Brandreth navigate their way through the linguistic flotsam and jetsam of the Royal Navy. With a good wind behind them they sail through the official ranks before unpicking the complex slang used above and below deck.
And there’s time for a quick word with the Sky Boatswain before sitting down to a delicious helping of ‘Adam and Eve on a raft’. We hope you like the cut of their jib!
As always we get through as many of your questions as we can - this week focussing on ‘codswallop’, ‘tosh’ and ‘gaffer’ - Susie has three brilliant words to commit to memory, and Gyles questions our baffling approach to plurals with a lovely, witty poem.
A Somethin’ Else production.
Smirting - flirting while you’re smoking
Nippitatum - a strong drink
Neckum, Swinkum, Swankum - the three draughts you can pour from a keg of ale
Try 6 free issues of The Week magazine worth £23.94 today. Go to http://bit.ly/SomethingRhymeswithPurple and use your special code PURPLE to claim your 6 week free trial today.
Don’t forget, we’ve got a lovely new range of merchandise available from https://kontraband.shop/collections/something-rhymes-with-purple so get your mugs, t-shirts, and tote bags today!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices