Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins
by Big Science Pods
Whole 9 Yards is a weekly podcast that will simultaneously educate, astonish, and amuse. Listen while we share equivocal research about the origin of words, phrases, and idioms we use every day. From the team at Big Science Pods, we bring you the whole 9 yards, the entire kit and caboodle, the whole shebang of this quick, entertaining look at our language and the history therein. Learn why we call New York "The Big Apple," what "red-handed" REALLY means and why sometimes people are "happy as a clam." So, let's cut to the chase, if you jump on the bandwagon now, the first 100 subscribers will be entered to win a Big Science Snuggie. Have a question about an idiom? Wanna drop us a line because you think we’re funny... or, not? Think we’re mistaken about any information we’ve shared? Hit us up at [email protected]. We’re waiting with bated breath!
Episodes
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W9Y Has An Ace In The Hole
Episode 342: Jay & Ray discuss a wide palette of colorful idioms. cut the mustard ace in the hole out of the blue Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio,...
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W9Y Works The Graveyard Shift
Episode 341: Jay & Ray get eerily close with a few old frightful idioms. graveyard shift bat outta hell jack-o-lantern skeletons in the closet Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing…
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W9Y Has The Heebie Jeebies
Episode 340: Jay & Ray scare up a few spooky idioms. heebie jeebies scared the pants off made my blood run cold Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio…
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W9Y Is Just Joshin'
Episode 339: Jay & Ray chose their own adventures. bandy about just joshin' world is your oyster get your goat Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast,...
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W9Y Calls Shotgun
Episode 338: Jay & Ray ask a few questions. naked as a jaybird bitter end shadow of a doubt call shotgun Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and…
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W9Y Goes Full Tilt
Episode 337: Jay & Ray go unsupervised. balled out full tilt seven ways from sunday Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post...
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W9Y Has Our Ducks In A Row
Episode 336: Jay & Ray explore fauna related phrases. bull & bear market til the cows come home ducks in a row charley horse Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design,...
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W9Y Is All About the Benjamins
Episode 335: Jay & Ray cash in on more money idioms. bread benjamins bob quid Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production...
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W9Y Buys the Farm
Episode 334: Jay & Ray rattle on about death. buy the farm kick the bucket widow's peak devil to pay Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all...
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W9Y Enjoys The Limelight
Episode 333: Jay & Ray break a leg. break a leg ham merde limelight Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the...
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W9Y Bootlegs Some Idioms
Episode 332: Jay & Ray get anatomically analytical. bootleg apple of my eye piggyback ride hand over fist Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all...
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W9Y Wags The Dog
Episode 331: Jay & Ray toe the line with some idioms. carpet bagger toe the line wag the dog gerrymander Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all...
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W9Y Has An Uncle Named Bob
Episode 330: Jay & Ray, by and large, make sense out of idioms. bob's your uncle by & large heavens to Betsy call a spade a spade Link to W.E.B. Dubois's powerful essay 'Returning Soldiers' written to the African-American soldiers returning from WWI. Snagglepuss (not Marvin Martian) Subscribe,...
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W9Y Is Pure Malarky
Episode 329: Jay & Ray sputter sheer nonsense. balderdash malarky knackered hornswaggled Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post...
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W9Y Violates Curfew
Episode 328: Jay & Ray get timely. curfew nick of time high time lollygag Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services…
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W9Y Gets the Third Degree
Episode 327: Jay & Ray get grounded by a few parental phrases. smart aleck the third degree mind your 'p's and 'q's Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio…
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W9Y Uses The Loo
Episode 326: Jay & Ray take a bathroom break. poop john loo potty Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the...
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W9Y Punctuates The Conversation
Episode 325: Jay & Ray question the ampersand. ampersand question mark interobang Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production...
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W9Y Is Not Yellow
Episode 324: Jay and Ray do some investigative yellow journalism. what a crock! yellow journalism Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all…
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W9Y Is On The Threshold Of Greatness
Episode 258: Jay & Ray cross the threshold into a world of old idioms. threshold gimp Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Instagram, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post...
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W9Y Does A Number On You
Episode 322: Jay & Ray do a number on a few new idioms. believe you me do a number on Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post…
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W9Y Is Flummoxed
Episode 321: Jay & Ray are confused by a few old idioms. piss and vinegar flummox Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production...
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W9Y Goes on a Boondoggle
Episode 320: Jay & Ray get cool with a few old idioms. boondoggle cool as a cucumber Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production...
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W9Y Gets Their Grub On
Episode 319: Jay & Ray groove with some Gs. disgruntle grub Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the...
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W9Y Is Squared Away
Episode 318: Jay & Ray get squared away with some idioms. spic and span squared away Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production...
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W9Y Are Not Teetotalers
Episode 317: Jay & Ray have idioms flying out their wazoo. teetotaller wazoo Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production…
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W9Y Goes Tit for Tat
Episode 203: Jay & Ray enjoy the scent of some idioms. p.u. tit for tat Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for...
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W9Y: A Bellwether Of Podcasting Excellence
Episode 315: Jay & Ray have some piping hot idioms. piping hot bellwether Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services…
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W9Y Has Skin In The Game
Episode 314: Jay & Ray have some skin in the game. skin in the game trip the light fantastic Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post...
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W9Y Takes The Court
Episode 313: Jay & Ray take a few old idioms to court. break the ice kangaroo court Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production...
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W9Y In a Nutshell
Episode 312: Jay & Ray slice up some old food idioms. cheesy in a nutshell Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services...
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W9Y Has Sour Grapes
Episode 311: Jay & Ray hash out some food idioms. sour grapes just desserts Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services...
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W9Y Takes the Stage
Episode 310: Jay & Ray take a thunderous approach to old etymologies. steal your thunder why is Macbeth referred to as 'The Scottish Play?' Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring…
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W9Y Gets Stingy
Episode 309: Jay & Ray toast to some new idioms. here's mud in your eye stingy Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production...
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W9Y Is Hell Bent For Leather
Episode 308: Jay & Ray stitch up a few old idioms. know the ropes hell bent for leather Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post...
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W9Y Has Odds and Ends
Episode 307: Jay & Ray learn about a few old odds and ends. scuttlebutt odds and ends Expressway (To Your Heart) Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast…
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W9Y Explores the Arctic
Episode 306: Jay & Ray get chilly with a few old idioms. full bore arctic Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services…
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W9Y Gets Zesty
Episode 305: Jay & Ray take a bite of out of old food idioms. carboy zest Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services…
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W9Y Is Hokum
Episode 304: Jay & Ray pull a old magical idioms out of their hats. open sesame hokum Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post…
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W9Y Is Over This
Episode 303: Jay & Ray are over a barrel. - Encore over your skiis over a barrel Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production...
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W9Y Has a Hankering for Idioms
Episode 302: Jay & Ray are beside themselves with (old) idioms. - Encore hankering beside yourself Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all...
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W9Y Gets Egg On Our Face
Episode 301: Jay & Ray get hungry for (old) foodioms. - Encore ham-fisted egg on your face Hambone Blues by Milton Brown / 1936 Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design,...
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W9Y Gets Cold Feet
Episode 300: Jay & Ray grab a few cold ones. -Encore cold feet tie one on Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services…
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W9Y Takes an L
Episode 299: Jay & Ray get a little lazy. - Encore lazy susan lo and behold Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services...
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W9Y Kibitzes About Idioms
Episode 298: Jay & Ray kibitz over some old idioms. - Encore roger kibitz Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services…
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W9Y Trims the Tree
Episode 297: Jay & Ray get festive with a few sparkle season idioms. - Encore deck the halls trim the tree Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all...
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W9Y Takes A Few Nips
Episode 296: Jay & Ray drink up some old idioms. -Encore nip mooch Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the...
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W9Y Supports Latchkey Kids
Episode 295: Jay & Ray talk to some people about idioms. - Encore latchkey kid buckaroo Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post...
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W9Y Is Rooting For You
Episode 294: Jay & Ray leaf through some old foliage idioms. - Encore root for bushed Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post…
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W9Y Talks Turkey
Episode 293: Jay & Ray get hungry for some old thanksgiving foodioms. -Encore talk turkey easy as pie Subscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky, Insta, & FB. Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all...
About this show
Whole 9 Yards is a weekly podcast that will simultaneously educate, astonish, and amuse. Listen while we share equivocal research about the origin of words, phrases, and idioms we use every day. From the team at Big Science Pods, we bring you the whole 9 yards, the entire kit and caboodle, the whole shebang of this quick, entertaining look at our language and the history therein. Learn why we call New York "The Big Apple," what "red-handed" REALLY means and why sometimes people are "happy as a clam." So, let's cut to the chase, if you jump on the bandwagon now, the first 100 subscribers will be entered to win a Big Science Snuggie. Have a question about an idiom? Wanna drop us a line because you think we’re funny... or, not? Think we’re mistaken about any information we’ve shared? Hit us up at [email protected]. We’re waiting with bated breath!
Hosted by
Big Science Pods