About this season
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.
Episodes (8)
1. One Sandwich Short Of A Picnic
Aired 11 May 2007 • 30 min
The OED thought Balderdash & Piffle were just the people to help out with words relating to madness. And they were right - wordhunters triumphed with all five words and phrases for which the OED needed help.
2. Man's Best Friend
Aired 18 May 2007 • 30 min
Dog has one of the longest entries in the dictionary - thanks to more than 250 different doggy phrases. The OED asked for our help with five of these, and we're wagging our tails to have succeeded with four of them
3. Euphemisms - The Lace Curtain Of Language
Aired 25 May 2007 • 30 min
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.
4. Dodgy Dealings
Aired 31 May 2007 • 30 min
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.
5. X-Rated
Aired 7 June 2007 • 30 min
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.
6. Put Downs And Insults
Aired 22 June 2007 • 30 min
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.
7. Who Were They?
Aired 29 June 2007 • 30 min
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'.
8. Fashionistas
Aired 6 July 2007 • 30 min
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!