Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins podcast artwork

PODCAST · society

Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins

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!

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Sep 11, 2026 · Source feed

  1. 335

    W9Y Buys the Farm

    Episode 334: Jay & Ray rattle on about death.buy the farmkick the bucketwidow's peakdevil to paySubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  2. 334

    W9Y Enjoys The Limelight

    Episode 333: Jay & Ray break a leg.break a leghammerdelimelightSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  3. 333

    W9Y Bootlegs Some Idioms

    Episode 332: Jay & Ray get anatomically analytical.bootlegapple of my eyepiggyback ridehand over fistSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  4. 332

    W9Y Wags The Dog

    Episode 331: Jay & Ray toe the line with some idioms.carpet baggertoe the linewag the doggerrymanderSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  5. 331

    W9Y Has An Uncle Named Bob

    Episode 330: Jay & Ray, by and large, make sense out of idioms.bob's your uncleby & large heavens to Betsy call a spade a spadeLink to W.E.B. Dubois's powerful essay 'Returning Soldiers' written to the African-American soldiers returning from WWI.Snagglepuss (not Marvin Martian)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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  6. 330

    W9Y Is Pure Malarky

    Episode 329: Jay & Ray sputter sheer nonsense.balderdashmalarkyknackeredhornswaggledSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  7. 329

    W9Y Violates Curfew

    Episode 328: Jay & Ray get timely.curfewnick of timehigh timelollygagSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  8. 328

    W9Y Gets the Third Degree

    Episode 327: Jay & Ray get grounded by a few parental phrases.smart aleckthe third degreemind your 'p's and 'q'sSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  9. 327

    W9Y Uses The Loo

    Episode 326: Jay & Ray take a bathroom break.poopjohnloopottySubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  10. 326

    W9Y Punctuates The Conversation

    Episode 325: Jay & Ray question the ampersand.ampersandquestion markinterobangSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  11. 325

    W9Y Is Not Yellow

    Episode 324: Jay and Ray do some investigative yellow journalism.what a crock!yellow journalismSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  12. 324

    W9Y Is On The Threshold Of Greatness

    Episode 258: Jay & Ray cross the threshold into a world of old idioms.thresholdgimpSubscribe, 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 services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  13. 323

    W9Y Does A Number On You

    Episode 322: Jay & Ray do a number on a few new idioms.believe you medo a number onSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  14. 322

    W9Y Is Flummoxed

    Episode 321: Jay & Ray are confused by a few old idioms.piss and vinegarflummoxSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  15. 321

    W9Y Goes on a Boondoggle

    Episode 320: Jay & Ray get cool with a few old idioms.boondogglecool as a cucumberSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  16. 320

    W9Y Gets Their Grub On

    Episode 319: Jay & Ray groove with some Gs.disgruntlegrubSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  17. 319

    W9Y Is Squared Away

    Episode 318: Jay & Ray get squared away with some idioms.spic and spansquared awaySubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  18. 318

    W9Y Are Not Teetotalers

    Episode 317: Jay & Ray have idioms flying out their wazoo.teetotallerwazooSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  19. 317

    W9Y Goes Tit for Tat

    Episode 203: Jay & Ray enjoy the scent of some idioms.p.u.tit for tatSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  20. 316

    W9Y: A Bellwether Of Podcasting Excellence

    Episode 315: Jay & Ray have some piping hot idioms.piping hotbellwetherSubscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  21. 315

    W9Y Gets Egg On Our Face

    Episode 301: Jay & Ray get hungry for (old) foodioms. - Encoreham-fistedegg on your faceHambone Blues by Milton Brown / 1936Subscribe, 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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  22. 314

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Random, pt. 5

    Episode 182: Jay & Ray stumble randomly through some old idioms. - Encoretickle your fancyget hitchedplantlowballSubscribe, review, and come find us on Twitter, 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 services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  23. 313

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Sayings, pt. 2

    Episode 181: Jay & Ray say some things - again. Encorebob's your uncleby & large heavens to betsy call a spade a spadeLink to W.E.B. Dubois's powerful essay 'Returning Soldiers' written to the African-American soldiers returning from WWI.Snagglepuss (not Marvin Martian)Subscribe, review, and come find us on Twitter, 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 services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

  24. 312

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Time.

    Episode 18: Jay & Ray get timely - encore.curfewnick of timehigh timelollygagSubscribe, review, and come find us on Twitter, Instagram, & FB.The Roberto Clemente Museum is a showcase of baseball artifacts, memorabilia, works of art, and photographs related to the life of Pittsburgh Pirates legend Roberto Clemente. Use our promo code W9Y21 at clementemuseum.com to get 10% off Hats and T-Shirts.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 advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.comsome of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins have?

Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins currently has 24 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins about?

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...

How often does Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins release new episodes?

Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins has 24 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins?

You can listen to Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins?

Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins is created and hosted by Big Science Pods.
URL copied to clipboard!