Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
262 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsWelcome to our whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. Each week, we delve into the origins of phrases to find out how they came into the English language. We tell the story of how the phrase got from its beginnings to where it is today. Shauna and Dan are two big nerds, so expect some geek culture references, random trivia facts, and loads of laughs!
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Episodes
232 If I Had a Nickel
April 24, 2024 12:00 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBIf Shauna and Dan had a nickel for every episode of Bunny Trails they released, they'd have $11.60, which isn't alot, but it's not nothing. Bonus: Rich women of the Barony of Glenard, Mark Twain, and Memes. Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved
231 Law of the Jungle / It's a Jungle Out There
April 17, 2024 12:00 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBThis week Shauna and Dan delve into two similar phrases, Law of the Jungle and It's a Jungle Out There. And yes, we talk about Kipling and Disney again. Bonus: Dan becomes an art critic. Shauna fails to choose a fruit. Remember to drink respectfully. Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved
230 Pie in the Sky
April 10, 2024 12:00 - 31 minutes - 43.3 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the surprising origins of pie in the sky. From workers rights to great British actors this episode has tons of cool facts! Bonus: Biggest meal of the day Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved
RETRO 98 Calm Before The Storm
April 03, 2024 12:00 - 31 minutes - 42.9 MBThis week Shauna and Dan take a look at the Calm Before The Storm. Then quickly learn there is SO MUCH MORE to this phrase! Join them on a whimsical adventure to explore the calm before and after the tempest. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
229 Tough Nut to Crack
March 27, 2024 12:00 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MBThis week Shauna and Dan look into the phrase, a Tough Nut to Crack. Dan gets super confused about the history of window blinds and then does a quick Aaron Neville impression. Bonus: The best Superman actors Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved
228 Fly Off the Handle
March 20, 2024 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBThis week Shauna and Dan try not to Fly Off the Handle as the dig into old dictionaries and early uses of the phrase. Bonus: Maine becomes a State, Buddy Rich, and our favorite pen colors. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
227 Speak of the Devil
March 13, 2024 12:00 - 29 minutes - 25.2 MBThis week Shauna and Dan decide to Speak of the Devil. Or sometimes, Talk of the Devil. Which do you say when someone you were just talking about shows up? Bonus: The devil has rattling bones and Dan hates horror games. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
226 Whole Kit and Caboodle
March 06, 2024 13:00 - 32 minutes - 29 MBThis week Shauna and Dan look into the whole kit and caboodle. Interesting, both of the phrases existed by themselves before they made common cause to outlast many of their rival phrases. Bonus: Make-up tackleboxes, planting people, and clowns! Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
225 Spit Into the Wind
February 28, 2024 13:00 - 32 minutes - 27 MBThis week Shauna and Dan talk about spitting into the wind. Gross. Fortunately, there is an early phrase that is less gross. Bonus: Our thanks to archivists, language researchers, and other professional word nerds. Also, combatants fighting the invisible opponents. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
RETRO 105 Crossing the Rubicon
February 21, 2024 13:00 - 30 minutes - 25.8 MBRETRO: This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase Crossing the Rubicon. Dan takes a guess at the origin of this phrase, but can't even get the right "ancient crosser of things". It's a mix of Crash Course World History and etymological fun on this week's Bunny Trails! Don't forget to be awesome! Originally aired March 24, 2021. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
224 When Pigs Fly
February 14, 2024 13:00 - 31 minutes - 27.9 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "when pigs fly". This one comes to English from Latin, and was quite a bit longer than the phrase we use today. Bonus: Reese's Peanut Butter Blobs and other holiday candy. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
223 Not My Cup of Tea
February 07, 2024 13:00 - 31 minutes - 25.2 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "not my cup of tea". Bonus: The silk road, black drag culture, and the age old question: Sunrise or Sunset? Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
222 Pecking Order
January 31, 2024 13:00 - 31 minutes - 26.5 MBThis week Shauna and Dan discuss the origins of the phrase Pecking Order. Bonus: Dan shares a secret, Shauna rolls a Nat 20 on charisma, and Dan gives you a new way to read Lord of the Flies. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
221 Pins and Needles
January 17, 2024 13:00 - 29 minutes - 24.9 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore what it means to be on pins and needles. Bonus: Shauna reviews tiny artwork while Dan fawns over children's books. Plus which would you rather be, a cheerleader or the mascot? Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
220 Hell Freezes Over
January 10, 2024 13:00 - 31 minutes - 27 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "hell freezes over". We start with the concept of hell and how it became to be known as an eternal, fiery place. Then we look at all the interesting ways this phrase has been used. Bonus: Dan hates speedboats, Shauna stans Doré, and we answer the question of bad hair cut or bad dye job. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
219 Cold Feet
January 03, 2024 13:00 - 31 minutes - 23.5 MBWelcome to our 7th season of Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast! This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase cold feet. Shauna gets cold feet on the subject of corns while Dan finally learns what corns even are. Bonus: The great onion ring vs fry debate. All Rights Reserved, 2024
218 Spam Messages
December 27, 2023 13:00 - 37 minutes - 32.3 MBThis week Shauna and Dan learn why we call those pesky emails spam messages. Bonus: The first spam messages (way older that you might think) and why Hormel's canned meat is called SPAM. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
RETRO 92 Christmas Spirit and other Christmastime Phrases
December 20, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 25.5 MBWe are digging into the archives this week to bring you the Christmas Spirit. Plus we talk *No Spoilers* about the new Christmas musical, Spirited. Then we jump into a RETRO episode on Christmas phrases, originally released December 23, 2020. This week we get into the Christmas Spirit while talking about the Christmas Blues. New plan, let's talk about both! Learn about some of your favorite holiday idioms. Plus, the origins of "White Elephant" gift exchanges. It's all here for your holiday...
217 A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
December 13, 2023 13:00 - 31 minutes - 24.7 MBThis week Shauna and Dan discover why a rolling stone gathers no moss. Bonus: Dan confuses moss for algae, Shauna forgets about Mick Jagger, and introverts unite. Also, did you know a rolling stone gathers no potato chips? Do with that information what you will. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
216 Snowball Effect
December 06, 2023 13:00 - 28 minutes - 52.9 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the history of the snowball effect. Bonus: Snowpersons, Science Fiction Matriarchs, and Snake Oil Sales Folk. Double Bonus: Air travel tips!
215 Easy as Pie
November 29, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 67.5 MBThis week Shauna and Dan make a podcast easy as pie. Though Dan points out that making a pie from scratch isn't always that easy. Bonus: The rankine scale, dream interpretations, and doodlewash. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
214 Ticker Tape Parade
November 22, 2023 13:00 - 30 minutes - 69 MBThis week Shauna and Dan celebrate life with a ticker tape parade! What is ticker tape? When was the first ticker tape parade? Bonus: Bad budgets and pool parties. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
213 Birds of a Feather
November 08, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 68.9 MBThis week Shauna and Dan review why birds of a feather tend to flock together. Bonus: Pictures of cats before the internet, Dodos in the magical world, and Dan gets lost in armed robbery. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
212 Stab in the Back
November 01, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 68.9 MBShauna and Dan explore the treachery of being stabbed in the back. Bonus: Ancient Greeks, World War II, and the most hated household cleaning jobs. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
211 With Flying Colors
October 25, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes - 67.9 MBThis week Shauna and Dan pass the podcasting test "with flying colors"! We explore flags, heralds, banners, and even liveries to find the origins of this phrase. Bonus: Synonyms with Roget, Crowsnests with Ensign Crusher, and Georgian Portia's with Miss Ferguson. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
210 As Hungry as a Horse
October 18, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 56.2 MBThis week Shauna and Dan decide if they are as hungry as a horse or if they are so hungry they could eat a horse. Better question, would they eat the saddle, too? Bonus: Hungry like a wolf, oxen, hawk, and farmhand. #BunnyTrails
209 The Last Straw
October 11, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 58.8 MBThis week Shauna and Dan reach the last straw. The final straw. The straw that broke the camel's back. Also, apparently, of feathers and horses. Bonus: Alliterative anthropomorphic animals, Habitual nuns, and a request of xkcd. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
208 Act of Congress
October 04, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 27.1 MBThis week Shauna and Dan go back to school to learn a history of the United States legislative bodies to help understand the idiomatic phrase, Act of Congress. Spoiler: The USA is predictable throughout its entire history so far. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
RETRO 142: Jump the Shark
September 27, 2023 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBRETRO: Shauna and Dan dig into the origins of Jump the Shark while documenting the phrases shift from TV failures to a plethora of topics. As a bonus, there are shows that ran for years after supposedly jumping the shark and other shows that jumped the shark twice! Despite the negative phrase it's all Happy Days on this week's #BunnyTrails Originally aired January 26, 2022. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
207 Fighting Tooth and Nail
September 20, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 25.5 MBThis week Shauna and Dan delve into the history books to learn about Fighting Tooth and Nail, including when we started adding word like "fight" in front of the more common "tooth and nail". Bonus: Hipster Blacksmiths, Cultist Communions, and the best Stage Musicals. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
206 Bite the Bullet
September 13, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 28.4 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase bite the bullet. We discover the predecessor phrase and debunk several origination myths for this one. Bonus: Valets, Sepoys, and Artificial Intelligence. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
205 Albatross Around Your Neck
August 30, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 28.1 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Albatross Around Your Neck. Shauna delves into the etymology of albatross with some pretty cool connections. Bonus: Cubism, Lisa Loeb glasses, and Dan talking to the FBI person who is listening in on the recordings. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
204 Tug at Your Heartstrings
August 23, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.1 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore heartstrings and their journey from literal, though misunderstood supporting structures to the marionette strings of your emotions. Bonus: Sad animated films, underused guitarists, and the best pizza places. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
203 Ghost Town
August 16, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 29 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the spookiness behind Ghost Town. Shauna talks about old mining towns while Dan talks about the Gettysburg battlefields. Bonus: The great Coke vs Pepsi debate has a surprise winner. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
RETRO 138 Gild the Lily
August 09, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 25.5 MBWhat happens when we, as speakers of a language, just decide to misquote a phrase until it takes on a life of its own? You get something like "Gild the Lily". Hear Shauna swoon over Heath Ledger in a Knight's Tale while Dan treks through Oscar Wilde shade, bad technicolor movies, and puppy-sized elephants to tell this week's story on #BunnyTrails. Originally aired December 29, 2021. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
202 Fourth Wall
August 02, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 28.7 MBThis week Shauna and Dan delve into the phrase, "Fourth Wall". Whether it's Deadpool, Jim Halpert, or Zack Morris, breaking that Fourth Wall is part of performance art. Bonus: Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Don Gruffo, and Light bulbs. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
201 Let Bygones be Bygones
July 26, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 24.9 MBThis week Shauna and Dan practice forgiveness as they explore the phrase, Let Bygones be Bygones. Bonus: Truth bombs from lyrical genius Tupac Shakur and Cobra mercenary Major Bludd. Plus... unicycles? #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
200 Hang Ten and Other Surfing Slang
July 19, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 28.4 MBWhat is a Hang Ten? How does one Hang Loose? Is it bad to Drop In? This week Shauna and Dan talk about their recent first time surfing and all the slang that goes with it. Bonus: Surfing Etiquette, the word 'brah', and traveling the world. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
199 Back Track
July 12, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 27.2 MBThis week Shauna and Dan try to go forward in a straight line while discussing the origins of the term, back track. Spoiler, they bunny trail anyway. Bonus: Dan gets angry with a guy from 1829, Shauna talks early FPS games for the Game Boy Advance, and our Patrons show some to San Diego. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
198 That Dog Won't Hunt
July 05, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 28.5 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the southern standby, that dog won't hunt. Did you know there is an early version featuring roosters? Bonus: US Presidents, Outlaw Country Music, and Hot vs Cold Coffee. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
197 Don't Bug Me and Other Insect Idioms
June 28, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 28.2 MBThis week Shauna and Dan talk about the insect idioms that have crawled their way into the English language. Bonus: Phineas and Ferb, a foxtrot, and legendary scary monsters. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
196 Give Up the Ghost
June 21, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MBThis week Shauna and Dan get spooky with Give Up the Ghost. This one is fascinating as it has remained mostly unchanged for 900+ years, though it's early usage wasn't meant to be figurative. Bonus: Generational Labels, Zany cartoon characters, and Shakespeare's rhyming schemes. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
195 Lost to the Mists of Time
June 14, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 26.4 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore all that has been lost to the mists of time. Well, at least the phrase; which sounds spooky and spiritual. And maybe it is. Bonus: Calvin and Hobbes, peer pressure from dead people, amazing museums, and rhyming poems. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
194 Butter Up
June 07, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 29.3 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the flattering phrase, to butter someone up. The origins are a bit murky, but we'll explore some popular theories. Bonus: Spanish Idioms, Friendsgiving, and Great Captains. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
RETRO 116 Calling Dibs and Other Chicago Phrases
May 31, 2023 12:00 - 35 minutes - 31.8 MBRETRO: Shauna and Dan return from Chicago armed with numerous parts of what newspaperman Mike Ryoko called "Chicagoese". We take a good look at the origins of Calling Dibs before doing snippets of other words and phrases like Ferris Wheel, Jinx, Pipe Dream, and more. Bonus: Dan wishes he knew I-290 was gonna be called the Eisenhower. It would have saved him so many headaches. More bonuses: Italian Beef, Hot Dogs, and Gluten-Free Donuts. Originally aired July 7, 2021 Copyright 2023 by The...
Retro 110 Pardon My French
May 24, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes - 26.4 MBRETRO: Dan gets an earworm and it turns into an entire episode on the phrase, "Pardon My French". Cause that's how it goes sometimes. This week our phrase moves from the early 1800s literal usage to a current way to excuse bad language, with plenty of high points along the way. #BunnyTrails Originally aired May 19, 2021 Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
193 In a Pickle
May 17, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 27.5 MBDan hates on cucumbers. And a popular children's book series. And a popular TV mockumentary. But he is helpful in defining what a rundown is in baseball. Shauna explores a light history of pickling and the origins of "In a Pickle" on this week's #BunnyTrails. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
192 My Goodness
May 10, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 28.2 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, My Goodness. How can My Goodness euphemistically refer to a god, when the words god and good are not etymologically related? And did Shakespeare start this one? Bonus: John Gilroy's Guinness campaign and Goldilocks' mattress. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
191 Face the Music
May 03, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes - 25.6 MBThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Face the Music. Dan turns into an old man and yells at clouds while Shauna misses Bill and Ted. Bonus: Dan confuses Hugh Grant and John Hannah, then shares his dice collection. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
Retro 94 Earworm
April 26, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes - 28.7 MBRETRO: Science fiction and science fact collide this week as Shauna and Dan discuss the origins and fun pre-history of the word "earworm". And then they talk all about those songs that just won't leave your brain! But don't worry, there is hope as they talk about possible cures, too. So much practical knowledge on this week's #BunnyTrails! Originally aired January 6, 2021. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved