History of Everyday Sayings

History of Everyday Sayings

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History of Everyday Sayings episodes

  • "A Different Kettle of Fish" - Origin and Meaning Plus Words of the Day
    In this episode, you discover the real meaning and origin of the saying, "A different kettle of fish".

    You also learn the meaning of our two words of the day: Ataraxia and Facsimile.

    References: "A different kettle of fish". Phrase Finder. Phrases.org.UK. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-different-kettle-of-fish.html

    "Meaning of be another/a different kettle of fish". "Cambridge Dictionary". Link: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/be-another-a-different-kettle-of-fish

    "Why "a different kettle of fish"?". Guardian.co.UK. Link: https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2187,00.html.
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    Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected].
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    Technical information: Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Soften, Audacity, Amadeus Pro, and Waves ReGen. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Rode Procaster.
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    9 min
  • Origin of "Kick the Bucket" and "Bucket List", Plus Words of the Day
    You will learn the origins and true meanings of "Kick the Bucket" and "Bucket List". You'll also learn 3 "words of the day" from authoritative dictionaries.
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    Sources: 

    "Kick the Bucket (Origin)". Link: https://Grammer-Monster.com.
    "Kick the bucket". Phrase Finder. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/kick-the-bucket.html
    "Bucket list". Phrase Finder. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bucket-list.html
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    Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected]
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    Technical information: Recorded with Twisted Wave. Edits with Soften, Audacity, Amadeus Pro, and Waves ReGen. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    11 min
  • Origin of "Happy as a Clam" Plus Words of the Day
    In this episode, you discover the meaning and history of the saying, "Happy as a Clam". You'll also learn two "Words of the Day".

    Resource to learn more: "As happy as a clam". Phrase Finder - Phrases.org. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/as-happy-as-a-clam.html#google_vignette
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    Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected]
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    Technical information: Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Soften, Audacity, Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Waves ReGen. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    8 min
  • Origin of "Around Robbin Hood's Barn"
    In this episode, you discover the meaning and origin of "History of Everyday Sayings". 
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    Resources:

    "MEANING AND ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE ‘ROUND ROBIN HOOD’S BARN’". WordHistories.net. Link: https://wordhistories.net/2018/12/05/robin-hoods-barn/

    "around Robin Hood's barn". Link: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/around_Robin_Hood%27s_barn
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    Words of the Day: Redolent and Davenport
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    Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected]
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    Technical information: Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Soften, Levelator, Amadeus Pro, and Waves ReGen, Final edits and rendering with Hindenburger Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    9 min
  • Origin of "A Dog is Man's Best Friend" Plus Words of the Day
    In this episode, you discover the history and origin of the saying, "A dog is a man's best friend".
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    Sources:

    "Man’s best friend". Phrase Finder". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/mans-best-friend.html#google_vignette

    "Man's best friend". "Wikipedia". Link:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_best_friend?utm_source=chatgpt.com

    Edwardo Toy, "Man's Best Friend: From Origins to Companions". Link: https://www.nahf.org/article/man-s-best-friend'
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    Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected]
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    Technical information: Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Soften, Amadeus Pro, Audacity, and Waves ReGen. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    Keywords: history_of_dogs, dog_sayings,
    13 min
  • Origin and Meaning of "In The Sticks" Plus Words of The Day
    In this episode, you discover the origin and historical meaning of the phrase, "In the sticks". In addition, you'll learn the meaning of our three Words of the Day:

    Mea Culpa 
    Perspicacious
    Prescind
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    Resources:

    Etymonline.com: "Origin and history of sticks". Link: https://www.etymonline.com/word/sticks
    Phrase Finder: "In the sticks". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/in-the-sticks.html
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    Host info: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected]
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    Technical information: Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Audacity, Waves ReGen, with final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    10 min
  • Origin and Meaning of "Longer Than a Country Mile"
    In this episode, you discover the origin and meaning of, "Longer Than a Country Mile". In addition, you'll discover the meaning of two Words of the Day, Gargantuan and Ergophobia.
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    Resources:

    "What Is a Country Mile? – Origin & Meaning". "Grammarist.com". Link: https://grammarist.com/idiom/country-mile/

    "A Country Mile - What's the meaning of the phrase 'A country mile'?". Phrase Finder. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-country-mile.html#google_vignette
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    Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected].
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    Technical information: Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Audacity, Soften, Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Audyllic. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
    14 min
  • Origin and Meaning of "Under My Thumb" Plus Words of the Year
    In 1966, the Rolling Stones recorded "Under My Thumb". What is the centuries-old origin of the phrase "Under The Thumb," and why do so many supposed experts get the origin wrong?

    In addition to the "Under My Thumb" and "Under The Thumb" phrases, you'll discover the Words of the Year from Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionaries.
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    Resources:

    "Under the Thumb". "Phrase Finder" - Phrases.org.UK. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/under-the-thumb.html

    "Under someone's thumb". "The Free Dictionary". Link: https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/under+someone%27s+thumb

    "Under one's thumb". "LanGeek English".  Link: https://dictionary.langeek.co/en/word/214361?entry=under%20thumb

    "2025 Word of the Year: Slop" - Merriam-Webster.com. Link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year

    "Oxford Word of the Year 2025". "Oxford University Press". Link: https://corp.oup.com/word-of-the-year/
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    Host: 

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com.. Email: [email protected].
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    Technical information:

    Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Soften, Amadeus Pro, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
    15 min
  • Origin and Meaning of "Red-Handed" Plus Words of the Day
    In this episode you discover the origin and meaning of the 600-year old phrase, "Red-Handed" and how it entered Western legal proceedings. 
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    Resources and citations:

    "Caught Red-Handed". GingerSoftware.com. Link: https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/phrases/caught-red-handed

    "The Bloody Origins of the Phrase 'Caught Red-Handed'". "How Stuff Works". Link: https://people.howstuffworks.com/caught-red-handed.htm#

    "Caught red-handed". "Phrase Finder". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/caught-red-handed.html
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected]
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    Technical information:

    Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Soften, Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Auphonic. Final edits with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Fifine T1. 
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    Keywords:

    Scottish Law, Scotland,
    10 min
  • Meaning and Surprising Origin of "Black Friday" Plus Word of The Day
    In this episode you discover the meaning and surprising origin of the phrase, "Black Friday". You'll learn how merchants conspired to change it's negative original connotation to one they thought was far more positive. Did it work? 

    References:

    "Why Is It Called Black Friday?". Britannica.com. Link: https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday

    "Black Friday (shopping)". Wikipedia.com. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)

    "Black Friday History: The Dark True Story Behind The Name". Huffpost.com. Link: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-friday-history-why-is-it-called-black-friday_l_5d951322e4b02911e1154386

    "Thanksgiving: From Local Harvests to National Holiday". Smithsonian - SI.edu. Link: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/thanksgiving/history

    "The History of Thanksgiving in Canada". Canadianhistory.ca. Link: https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/arts-culture-society/the-history-of-thanksgiving-in-canada
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: [email protected]
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    Technical information:

    Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Soften, Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone Rode Procaster (close miced).
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    Keywords:

    Philadelphia, Thanksgiving, holiday_shopping,
    13 min

About History of Everyday Sayings

From the publisher's feed

In each episode you discover the surprising history of how sayings we use today came to be long ago. This show is for you if you are a logophile - meaning of course lover of words - a writer, speaker,…

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