History of Everyday Sayings

In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the phrase, "Rule of Thumb ". One discovery I made as I investigated the origin of this phrase is - despite popular belief - in reality it has NOTHING to do with the myth that English law allowed a man to beat his wife with a rod no thicker than his thumb. --- I nformation sources: "The meaning and origin of the expression: Rule of thumb"...

In this episode you discover the Word of the Year as identified by Merriam-Webster Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionary along with "runner up" words that nearly took the title. Resources mentioned in this episode: "Word of the Year 2023". Merrium-Webster online. Link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year Sara Kuta, "‘Rizz’ Is Oxford’s 2023 Word of the Year"; December 3, 2023....

The slang term for the British Pound is "Quid". How old is that term, what is the origin, and what is the true meaning? Discover the answers to these questions and learn more about "the Quid" and it's history in this episode. --- Sources used in this episode: "What Is a Quid? History of the British Pound Sterling (GBP)". "Investopedia". Link: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/q/quid.asp#citation-...

In this episode you discover the surprising centuries old origin of the term "Honeymoon". Sources cited in this episode: "The Surprising Meaning Of Honeymoon Explained". Dictionary.com. Link: https://www.dictionary.com/e/honeymoon/ "THE ORIGIN OF THE WORD "HONEYMOON": WHAT DOES IT MEAN". BatchMead.com. Link: https://www.batchmead.com/blogs/batch/did-mead-coin-the-term-honeymoon "The mysterious ori...

In this episode you discover how the phrase, "I heard it through the grapevine" and related sayings came to be. You'll also discover how that phrase led to one of Motown Records most popular song. --- Sources for information shared in this episode: "Heard It On The Grapevine" - Ginger Software: https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/phrases/heard-it-on-the-grapevine/# Lyrics for "I heard it throug...

We have a love - hate relationship with wealth in general and money specifically. Why? In this episode you discover the centuries old source of the phrase heard so often today, "Filthy Rich". --- Sources Used in This Episode: Definition of "Filthy Rich" according to Merrium Webster Online: Link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filthy%20rich#:~:text=%3A%20extremely%20rich,wealth%20is%20e...

In this episode you discover the meanings and early sources for the phrase, "Give the devil his due". Sources / Resources: Lyrics to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Link: https://genius.com/Charlie-daniels-the-devil-went-down-to-georgia-lyrics "What's the meaning of the phrase 'He will give the Devil his due'?". Phrases.org. UK. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/176900.htm l "What Does G...

Apple pie has become a symbol of the United States. It even played a role in motivating men to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War II. In this episode you discover how the phrase, "As American as Apple Pie" came to be so commonly used and the history of apples and apple pie in America. --- References: "Why We Say “As American as Apple Pie”. Link: https://www.bhg.com/holidays/july-4th/traditio...

In this episode you discover the original source and meaning for the phrase, "Wet Blanket". --- Sources: - "Wet blanket". Grammerist website: Link: https://grammarist.com/idiom/wet-blanket/ - "Wet Blanket". Disappering Idioms website: Link: https://disappearingidioms.com/wet-blanket/ - "Wet Blanket" Phrase Finder Website: Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/wet-blanket.html Host: Stephen Car...

In this episode you discover the origen of the phrase, "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day". We trace the history of this frequently used metaphor that extends a thousand years back in time. --- Sources: "The Origin of the Saying 'Rome Wasn't Built in a Day'": The "Culture Trip" website: Link: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/the-origin-of-the-saying-rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day/ "What's the...

In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the term "Gaslighting". You'll learn how gaslighting is used to manipulate others in ways that can destroy a victim's sense of mental and emotional wellbeing. --- Sources referenced in this episode: Definition and origin: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaslighting "What is Gaslighting - Medical News Today"; July 14, 2022; "Med...

In this episode you'll discover: - The origin of the saying, "You can't have your cake and eat it too". - The original phrase and when that phrase changed to the one common today. - How this phrase led to the identification and arrest of Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unibomber who terrorized the world for nearly two decades. --- Sources: "HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO"; "Today I found out" website:...

In this episode you discover: - The original meaning of "common sense" and how that meaning changed over time; - The powerful impact of the "Common Sense" pamphlets on the American Revolution; - The surprising home country of the "Common Sense" pamphlets author Thomas Paine; - Opinions about how common "common sense" is; and, - More interesting history tidbits related to the phrase "common sense"....

Discover the history and origin possibilities for the saying, "it's raining cats and dogs". The saying extends back to the 17th Century and has enjoyed use in everyday conversations for centuries. --- Sources mentioned in the episode: What is the meaning of "It's Raining Cats and Dogs"?: Phrases.org: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/raining-cats-and-dogs.html --- What is the origin of the phras...

You've heard the phrase: Kangaroo Court. Discover it's real meaning and origin in this episode. --- Host: Stephen Carter; https://www. StressReliefRadio.com | Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com Sources: Definition from Merriam-Webster online dictionary: Merriam-webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kangaroo%20court "Harvard Law Review" article: https://harvardlawreview.org/2021/02/kan...

By listening you discover how the sayings, "More fun than a barrel of monkeys" and - bonus - "Barrel of laughs" originated and changed over time. --- Timestamps: 00:00 - Episode topic; 00:20 - Show and host info; 00:57 - History of "More fun than a barrel of moneys"; 07:32 - Origin and history for "Barrel of laughs"; 10:01 - Listen and subscribe / follow; 10:20 - How to contact host Stephen Carter...

In this episode you discover the origin and true original meaning of “Good enough for government work” You also learn how the meaning changed completely during ensuing years from it’s first use in the early 1900s. —- Host: Stephen Carter. Email contact: CarterMethod@gmail.com. —- Sources: From A History of the Canadian Parliament (the phrase's first appearance is in Parliamentary records on June 8...

In this episode you discover the origin and true meaning of "Sick as a Dog". You also discover the origins and meanings for "Sick Puppy" and "Sick as a Parrot". ---- Sources for this investigation: "Sick as a Dog": Dictionary.com: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sick-as-a-dog; Ginger software: Ginger Software: https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/phrases/sick-as-a-dog/; "Sick Puppy" Phrases.or...

In this episode you discover the origin and meaning of the saying by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger". You also discover scientific research showing at least one situation where that saying has proven to be true. --- Sources used for this episode: Dictionary.com: "In 1888, Nietzsche wrote “Aus der Kriegsschule des Lebens.—Was mich nicht umb...

In this episode of "History of Everyday Sayings" you disover the history, meaning, and attributed origins of "Get Down to Brass Tacks". --- Resources cited in this episode: Robert Hendrickson - "The QPB Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins - 4th edition. Checkmark Books. Page 117. "The meaning and origin of the expression: Get down to brass tacks" The Phrase Finder Website: https://www.phrases....

In this episode you discover the origin and true meaning of the saying, "The World is Your Oyster". --- Source mentioned in the episode: ‘The World Is Your Oyster’ Saying Origin & Meaning: https://nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/famous/the-worlds-your-oyster/ --- Host: Stephen Carter; Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com . --- Technical information: Recorded with Tascam Podcast Editor. Edits with Twisted W...

In this episode you discover the origin of the famous song “Auld Lang Syne” and how it became the theme song that ushers in the New Year every year in most of the English speaking world. Timestamps: 00:00 - Episode topic; 00:34 - Show and host info; 00:58 - Welcome the New Year with the song Auld Lang Syne; 02:13 - What does Auld Lang Syne mean and where does it come from?; 04:45 - How to learn mo...

What is a “Boondoggle” and how did the word come to be? In this episode you discover the surprising origin and real meaning of the word “Boondoggle”. --- Timestamps: 00:00 - Episode topic: Meaning and origin of Boondoggle: 00:11 - Show and host info; 01:05 - Investigation of the word "Boondoggle"; 06:50 - How to learn more about Boondoggle; 07:18 - Subscribe / follow for free where you get your po...

In this episode you discover the odd origin of the phrase, “Beat around the bush”. — Host: Stephen Carter, CEO, Stress Solutions, LLC. Website: https://www. EFT-MD.com; Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com. --- Timestamps: 00:00 - Episode topic; 00:29 - Show and host info; 01:05 - Origin of "Beat around the bush"; 06:10 - How to learn more about the phrase "Beat around the bush"; 06:33 - How to subscribe...

You’ve heard the phrase, “Jump the Shark”. Many people who use the phrase don’t use it in accordance with it’s original meaning. Discover it’s real meaning and how it came to be in this episode. Timestamps: 00:00 - Episode topic - Jump the Shark; 00:13 - Show, host, and audience info; 05:11 - Learn more about the phrase; 05:21 - How to subscribe or follow; how to contact host — Sources: Know Your...