PODCAST · education
Why Do We Say That?
by Phil Chenevert
This show will take several words or phrases and examine their queer, interesting or funny origins. Sometimes they are all three. The author has a short attention span and is just an amateur who loves word origins so all podcasts will be from 3 to 5 minutes of fun and irrerevant comments.
Episodes
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050 - Pound - Panic - live apples
Hey good people, this is episode 50 of this fantabulous podcast and will explain the interesting origins of our words Pound, Panic and love apples. Love Apples? what are they? hmmmmm. well listen and find out. No fair telling you since I sent to the trouble of making a podcast, eh? here is a deep...
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049 - Symposium - the walls have ears - shellelagh
Welcome to episode 49. I will explain what really happens at a high-falutin 'Symposium', why we say the walls have ears and the origin of the word shellelagh. Please listen with discretion and do not use your new knowledge for evil, only for good.
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048 - In One Fell Swoop - Amazon - Cynic
Episode 48 deals with the philosophical question "How does something happen in One Fell Swoop?" What is a Fell Swoop? and why is it all alone? I know you have been wondering about these things and so I'm here to ease the angst for all of you by explaining it. In ONe Fell Swoop. (hint: there is a...
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047 - Dunce, Blockhead, To Have the Upper Hand
I talk about the interesting and kinda sad origin of the word Dunce. Blockhead is not so interesting but still fun. Please remember to speak distinctly when talking to older folk, some of us can't hear too well any more and it's embarrising to keep saying 'Huh?' "what's that again'? This has been…
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046 - Climb on the Bandwagon - Boycott
Episode 46 discusses Climbing on the Bandwagon (yeah, I misspelled the file - sorry about that) and the interesting word Boycott. No witty remarks this time; I'm fresh out. But I just learned about the word Franking, like in sending mail and it is fascinating. And of course the phrase 'to be...
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045 - Backlog - Dead as a Doornail - Boulevard
Episode 45 of this sagatious saga about sayings. I tackle the wonderful word "backlog". Why do we have backlogs? Are they real things? And if so, why are they in the back? Do they every secretly desire to become 'front logs'? Listen and find out the fascinating origin of this word. Next I deal…
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044 - Ride roughshod, cesarean section, average, blackmail
This written stuff is totally supurfluous, meaning you don't need to read it, just listen to my melifilous (meaning honeyed) podcast. But if you insist on reading, the origin of riding roughshod over someone or something has a real and somewhat bloody origin. Thank goodness we just do it...
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043 - Cop - cattycorner - constable - to Ride Roughshod over someone
Episode 43 and I still haven't run out of words. This is amazing. Today you will learn about the many proble origins of why we call policemen 'cops'; why something diagonally across the street is 'cattycorner' (pronunciation optional); and the origin of the word constable. (It smells of horses…
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042 - Cute - bootlegger - private eye - dont panic
This is another example of detailed and careful research resulting in incredible knowledge about words and stuff. Unfortunately I don't always pass along this knowledge too well but my intentions are good. the origins of the words 'cute', 'bootlegger' and 'private eye' are explored in amazing…
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041 - Buck - pass the buck - bucaneer - astonish
Well, the title just about says it all, we talk about stuff having to do with Buck; the male deer and some of the words associated with it. Although bucaneer really isn't connected too much. well, let's face it; everyting is not clear and perfect in this world, OK? sometimes things get messy and…
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040 - Bootlegger - apple of my eye - checkbook - rat race
Whoopee! Episode 40 hits the internet and it is a GOOD one. At least I think so. Soooo many words, and so little time. Ah well, today I will explain where the word 'bootlegger', the phrase 'apple of my eye', 'checkbook' and 'rat race' come from. No fanc footwork here, just fun, happy explanations...
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039 - Cock and Bull story - claptrap - bowie knife
I talk about the origins of the phrases Cock & Bull story, claptrap and the beloved bowie knife. All interesting stuff indeed. Remember that when chemists die they barium. No sponsor ! Horray! I remain free and unfettered by filthy lucre........... darn it.
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038 - Ax to grind - Beat the Rap - Atrophy
This episode was a fun one to put together. I especially love ATROPHY , as a word because of it's origins. You will too no dobut and if you don't well, you may be lacking in a sense of joy and wonder. Or maybe it's just me being strange again. Ax to grind comes from a folk tale as you will find…
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037 - Through Thick and Thin - Cappuccino - California
Hello good listeners and readers! This is Phil 'the curious guy' with some more faintly interesting word and phrase origins in episode 37. Why do we say "I'll stick with you through thick and thin"? and where did the word Cappuccino come from? And I answer the odd question from a listener about...
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036 - Ballot - White Elephant - Cloud 9 - Alma Mater
Episode 36 (this one) is the product of strenuous, hard and exhausting research so you had better enjoy it or I will pout for 20 minutes. Today we explore the origin of the word "ballot" as used to vote, White Elephant when used to say "I've got a white elephant", Cloud 9 and finaly, since I have...
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035 - Clue - Charley Horse - Curfew
Episode 35 is another fairly amusing one. Nothing too exciting except for the word CLUE. I love the origin of this word and wax poetic about it. I promise you will be surprised and delighted with where this word comes from Charley Horse and curfew are both interesting but not in comparison to…
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034 - Bearhug - Lick into shape - bee line
Episode 34 is on the air and full of squeezing and lickin' good stuff. First off is the bearhug (an interesting term indeed) and then I examine the reason for saying that we will ' lick something into shape'. Finally I muse about the inappropriateness of the phrase 'making a bee-line' for...
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033 - Storyville - Sabotage - Sandwich
Episode 33 is a fun look at Storyville, sabotage and sandwich. Since I grew up in New Orleans, I heard about the evil storyville (a section of the French Quarter set aside for houses of ill repute) a LOT well here is why it was called that.
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032 - Peter out - Up to Snuff - runway
Wow. Episode 32 is another truly strange one. I tackle the wonderful origins of the phrase 'peter out' and 'up to snuff'. And another question from a truly way out listener is answered; why is it called a 'runway'? when the plane doesn't run at all on it but just kinda rolls. NOTE: Grammar and...
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031 - Learn the Ropes - To the Bitter End - Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth - cheat
Have you ever 'learned the ropes'? Well this episode explains how that phrase entered our languge. Also Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth is interesting. Why won't that butter melt? ah.... listen and find out. lastly we answer a question about the word 'cheat' and where it came from. No cheating...
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030 - Sense of Humor - Tumbler
Episode 030 explodes upon the podcast scene with amazing facts and tidbits .... well perhaps, not exactly 'explodes', more like shyly sneaks into the room. A Sense of Humor is someting we all want, right? Making people smile and like to have us around with snappy dialog and witty reparte. Right?....
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029 - Log - Leotard - the Naked Truth
Another semi-exciting episode of word origins. Today I will expain why we "log" something or keep a log - of course it comes from the sea. And those tight fitting garments called Leotards had an interesting origin. And lastyl another question from our fabulous listeners of why we urge someone to...
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028 - Getting Down to Brass Tacks ; To Steal Someone's Thunder
Episode 28 takes us to the early days of America and back to the Elizabethian theatre for these two phrases. Getting Down to Brass Tacks means to get down to business and stealing someone's thunder means ... well ... taking their glory and merits away from them. This episode sponsored by your...
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027 - Make the Grade; Pan out; Pull the Woll over his Eyes
Episode 27 is another jaunt through the reason why we say some of the things we do like "He can't make the grade" or "It didn't pan out" or "Boy, she sure pulled the wool over his eyes that time!" This episode sponsored by aliens from Neptune: why should Mars get all the glory they ask?!…
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026 - Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve; Tilt at Windmills
Episode 26 keeps up the torrid pace of excellence. More or less. Why do we say someone wears their heart on their sleeve? and Why we say that someone Tilts at Windmills. This episode sponsored by toes; those wonderful things on the end of our feet. Kiss some of them today in appreciation.
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025 - Not worth his Salt ; Above the salt ; take it with a grain of salt - tinkers dam
Are you worth your salt? and why do we 'take something with a grain of salt'? And another question from a listener asks whether "Not worth a Tinker's dam" is profanity. I assure them it is not and where it comes from. Another jam packed exciting episode. Brought to you by Your Gall Bladder: Have...
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024 - Bulls & Bears - Bull Sesion - Topsy Turvey
Episode 24 is jam packed with goodies and interesting word origins. The stock market jargon 'Bulls & Bears' is explained along with an easy way to remembr which is which. Why we call a bunch of guys (or girls now) chewing the fat a Bull Session and Topsy-Turvey to answer another letter from our...
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023 - Gossip - Throw someone to the wolves
Psss! wanna hear some gossip? This episode reveals the surprising origin of our wonderful word GOSSIP. And then explains where Throwing Someond to the Wolves comes from .... tsk. tsk. sad but true.
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022 - pig in a poke - high on the hog - hogwash - boudouir
Wow. .. another episode of this podcast about word and phrase origins. This time we jump into the mud with the hogs with Pig in a Poke, High on the Hog, hogwash and boudouir. Well that last one doesn't belong but just make it fit, eh?
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021 - The Days of the Week - Rx
Every wonder where we got the words for our days of the week? Sunday? Monday? Tuesday, etc? Well I am here in this sincitillating episode to 'splain it to you. Also what does that Rx symbol we see on our medicine bottles come from? This episode proudly sponsored by the tilde ~ Use it with PRIDE!...
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020 - Bolt from the Blue - close but no cigar - blue chip stock - All Gussied Up
Wow! episode 20 is now on the air. I am excited about this one because it discusses the origin of Bolt From the Blue, a favorite of mine; Close but no cigar; Blue Chip Stock and finally inresponse to a question from a faithful listener, the phrase All Gussied Up. Thanks to our sponsor, Public...
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019 - To Go Whole Hog -- Fan -- Eavesdrop
This episode continues my casual saunter though the beautiful and sunny meadow of words and phrases, stopping now and the to smell the wonderful origins of a few at random. And my mom said I was never going to amount to anything! Episode sponsored by the EU; yes the European Union wants YOU to…
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018 - Peeping Tom - Don't Fly Off the Handle - Bikini
Episode 18 is a very good one if I do say so myself. Was there ever a real Peeping Tom? well .. perhaps! and why do we say "Don't Fly off the Handle"? and why is that bathing suit called a "Bikini"? I explain 'em all in this fascinating stroll down the etymology path. Come on along .....
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017 - Happy as a Clam - Fink - Gimme a Break!
I'll bet you don't know why we say that someone is Happy as a Clam. Well, the origins of this phrase is exposed in this episode of Why Do We Say That, along with why we call someone a Fink and why we say that some got a good break or a bad break. Sponsored by the Society to Speak More Better English
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016 - Spick & Spa - On the Nose - Nightmare
Episode 16 continutes the exciting search for word and phrase origins. Spick & Span; On the Nose and Nightmare are explore today for your listening pleasure. No sponsor again .
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015 - Stereo & Stereotype
Episode 15 is now available and with MUSIC! yep, I've added music for your enjoyment. Eveyone else seems to use it so ... The words "Stereo" and "Stereotype", their real meaning and their origins are covered in this syntillating episode. (I bet you think stereo means double, right? well it...
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013 - Floatsam & Jetsam - Laconic - Pedigree
Episode 13 (this one) is especially lucky because we explore why we say "Floatsam & Jetsam" (incindentally, why never just 'floatsam'?); Laconic the art of speaking with few words, and Pedigree, the tracing of your family's background. For good or evil. This episode would have been sponsored by...
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012 - Goody Two Shoes - Handwriting on the Wall - Meander
Episode 12 of Why Do We Say That is stuffed with interesting word and phrase origins, starting with "Goody Two Shoes" and ending with the word Meander. Listen to find out where they came from. This episode sponsored by Coffee and Bacon - two things that keep me going. !!!!
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011 - Can't Hold A Candle to You & To Goldbrick
This episode explains the curious origin of our phrase "He can't hold a candle to you" which we use to show that someone is very inferior. Also how we come to use the phrase and verb, "to goldbrick" to goof off while appearing to be working. It is American in origin and comes from early con...
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010 - Scuttlebut - The Straight Poop - 3 Sheets to the Wind - Fudge
This episode takes us to the high seas and many colorful phrases that originated there. In fact all of these have a salty tang to them, even fudge! Our sponsor for this episode is the Society for Cheese Grits. have a bowl today. Hmmmm! yummy.
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009 - Read the Riot Act - Juggernaut
This episode explains why we use the phrase "Read Someone the Riot Act" and use the word "Juggernaut". This episode brought to you by your sense of Touch and your sense of Forebodeing.
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008 - Knuckle Down; To Win Hands Down; Personality
In this exciting episode I explore why we say "Knuckle Down", "To Win Hands Down" and where the word "Personality" comes from. Disclaimer: Not to be used for personal hygiene or inserted into the ear.
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007 - Siamese Twins-Whippersnapper-House Whip-Take the Wind out of your Sails
This fabulous episode of Why Do We Say That tackles the eternal question: Why do we call 'em, Siamese Twins? and what is a 'young whippersnapper', a political whip and finally, why do we say that something 'takes the wind out of your/his sails'?
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006 - Quiz, Adieu, When in Rome
Podcast 6 covers the interesting origins of the words "Quiz" and "Adieu" and the phrase "When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do"
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005-Get's My Goat; Mad as a Hatter; Get the Sack
The story behind some more phrases we use. Today I explore why someone Gets My Goat when they succeed in upsetting or irritating me. Why Hatters used to literally be on the crazy side and why someone "gets the sack" when they are fired from a job. This episode sponsored by the shape Rectangle and...
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004-Courtship and Marriage
This episode of Why Do We Say That? explores the origins of words like 'courtship', 'wife', 'marriage' and 'honeymoon'. An interesting romp through love and guys and girls.
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003 - Your Goose is Cooked; Seasonings; & Eat Humble Pie
This episode of Why Do We Say That explains the origins of some more food phrases, to wit: Your Goose Is Cooked; Seasonings and & Eating Humble Pie. Another stroll down the funny history of our idioms and words. Enjoy This episode brought to you by the letter T and the words Tango and Tickle.
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002-Bring Home the Bacon & Give the Cold Shoulder
Hi good people. This episode of Why Do We Say That? will discuss phrases relted to food. Where does Bring Home the Bacon come from? What kind of bacon? And also why do we say that we Give Some the Cold Shoulder when we wish to ignore or insult them? Listen and find out. More food phrases will...
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001-Bones, Bones & and More Bones
I'm going to make these podcasts short, say 3 to 5 minutes, fun (at least for me) and diverse. I'll cover words and phrases and anything else we say that I have found to have a funny or interesting history and origin. Expect at least 1 a week probably on Monday. Or maybe two if I find some really...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This show will take several words or phrases and examine their queer, interesting or funny origins. Sometimes they are all three. The author has a short attention span and is just an amateur who loves word origins so all podcasts will be from 3 to 5 minutes of fun and irrerevant comments.
HOSTED BY
Phil Chenevert
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Why Do We Say That? have?
Why Do We Say That? currently has 49 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Why Do We Say That? about?
This show will take several words or phrases and examine their queer, interesting or funny origins. Sometimes they are all three. The author has a short attention span and is just an amateur who loves word origins so all podcasts will be from 3 to 5 minutes of fun and irrerevant comments.
How often does Why Do We Say That? release new episodes?
Why Do We Say That? has 49 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Why Do We Say That??
You can listen to Why Do We Say That? 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 Why Do We Say That??
Why Do We Say That? is created and hosted by Phil Chenevert.
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