In this episode you discover the meaning and origin of this centuries old phrase, "If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride". You'll also learn other surprising related sayings.---Sources:"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". Phrase Fi

Origin and Meaning of "Hit the Nail on the Head"

May 6th, 2024 8m 47s

In this episode you and I explore the true meaning and origin of the phrase, "Hit the Nail on the Head". We also look at two other phrases related to hammers and nails.References:Meaning of "Hit the Nail on the Head" from Ginger Software. Link:

Origin of "The Devil Is In The Details"

Mar 26th, 2024 11m 37s

In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the phrase, "The devil is in the details".Citations / sources:"What Does The Devil Is in the Details Mean? (Dissecting This Idiom)". "wikiHow". Link: https://www.wikihow.com/The-Devil-

Origin and True Meaning of "Rule of Thumb"

Feb 5th, 2024 11m 7s

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 l

Surprise Words of the Year for 2023

Jan 4th, 2024 15m 46s

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

Origin and True Meaning of "Quid" - Slang for The British Pound

Nov 22nd, 2023 11m

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 t

Surprising Origin of "Honeymoon"

Oct 8th, 2023 12m 55s

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

Origin of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"

Sep 8th, 2023 10m 44s

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 episod

Origin of the Phrase "Filthy Rich"

Jul 10th, 2023 12m 2s

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

"Give the Devil His Due" - True Meaning and Origin

Jun 7th, 2023 10m 9s

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"

Origin of "As American as Apple Pie"

May 1st, 2023 8m 2s

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 t

Origin and Meaning of the Phrase "Wet Blanket"

Mar 14th, 2023 9m 23s

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:/

Origin of "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day"

Feb 17th, 2023 7m 1s

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 D

Meaning and Origin of "Gaslighting"

Jan 24th, 2023 12m 6s

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

Origin of "You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too"

Dec 5th, 2022 13m 38s

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 Kaczy

Origin of the Phrase "Common Sense" - It's Older Than You Think!

Nov 4th, 2022 8m 26s

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" pa

Origin of "Raining Cats and Dogs"

Oct 12th, 2022 12m 37s

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

True Meaning and Origin of "Kangaroo Court"

Sep 1st, 2022 7m 46s

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.comSources:Definition from Merriam-Webster online dictionary:M

Origin of "More Fun Than a Barrel of Monkeys"

Aug 3rd, 2022 10m 49s

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

Origin and Real Meaning for “Good Enough for Government Work”

Jun 27th, 2022 6m 53s

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 co

Origin of "Sick as a Dog" and 2 Related Phrases

Jun 8th, 2022 8m 8s

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.dict

Origin of "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger"

Apr 25th, 2022 6m 8s

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 sayi

Origin of "Getting Down to Brass Tacks"

Apr 11th, 2022 9m 13s

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 - 4t

"The World is Your Oyster" - Origin and True Meaning

Mar 28th, 2022 5m 10s

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-yo

Auld Lang Syne - Origin and Why It's a New Year's Tradition

Dec 28th, 2021 7m

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 in