Rob and Jess "pull out all the stops" in this episode explaining idiom origins. 

✈️ Why do we say "balls to the wall" and "push the envelope"? 

🐘 What's so useless about a "white elephant"? 

👕 Where were the original "whole nine yards"?

These questions answered and many more in this common sayings special of Words Unravelled.

Here's our other idioms episode: https://pod.fo/e/2a54ba

And the video version of this one: https://youtu.be/ca3lz3dXgW8

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Let's explore British English and American English. In another transatlantic war of words, Rob (a Brit) and Jess (an American) debate the differing words for the same things either side of the pond.

For our new Channel Memberships click "Join" just below the video. 

Our previous 🇺🇸 vs. 🇬🇧 episode

📺 https://youtu.be/o6KlBd7TPFI?si=EHmBIMV3PatoSQi9

🔊 https://pod.fo/e/240f60

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🎥 Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/kf6zkx3Zg_4

We're back for a new 🇬🇧series/🇺🇸season of Words Unravelled. In this episode, transatlantic word nerds Rob and Jess tackle the truth and lies surrounding Williams Shakespeare.

✍️ Did the Bard really invent 1,700 words?

🤬 Which insults did Willy give us?

🎭 Could he actually have written all of those plays?

These questions answered and many more, just As You Like It.

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🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/91ZxuC2jLo4

There's fightin' talk in this episode of Words Unravelled, in which Jess and Rob discuss words of warcraft.

🔫 Which woman are all guns named after?

🪖 Where does the word "war" come from?

👮 Is lieutenant pronounced loo-tenant or lef-tenant?

These questions answered – and many more – in this military etymology special of Words Unravelled.

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🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/4CJRYBxDdGg

In this printing special of Words Unravelled, Jess proves herself a font of knowledge on names for typefaces and Rob makes a bit impression with the history of the printing press.

🆎 What's the difference between a font and a typeface?

😈 Who was the printer's devil?

📖 How did the printing press ruin English spelling?

These questions answered — and many more — in this cliché-free episode of Words Unravelled.

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👂WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/cd5iFbuNKv8

It's here: the much-requested swearing episode of Words Unravelled. Join Rob and Jess as they explore the origins of all manner of profanity.

#️⃣ Where did the F word come from?

📍 Which place names originally contained swear words?

📺 What are the worst words you can say on TV?

These questions answered, and many more, in this NSFW edition of Words Unravelled.

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Our EU and US shops cover most of the world between them:

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WATCH THIS EPISODE

https://youtu.be/NqvT3gVz2aw

Welcome to another bloomin' wonderful episode of Words Unravelled. This time, Rob and Jess are discussing the origins of all manner of flower name.

🌻Which flower makes you wet the bed?

👁️Which flower's name means "day's eye"?

🌹What is the origin of the word rose?

🥒What did Jess name her cucumber plant?

These questions answered - and many more - in this anthology of horticultural etymologies.

🎥 Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/9Z2kjEJAscs

🤬 Merriam-Webster's flowers that sound like insults: https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/plant-names-that-sound-like-insults 

Who wants to learn how to talk pretty? In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the clever tricks used by poets, novelists and speechwriters to surprise, move and persuade us. Join them as they discuss rhetoric and literary devices.

😉 What are the three types of irony?

❓Do you now an anaphora from an epistrophe?

🤷🏼‍♀️ Why is tmesis so un-flippin'-believable?

These questions answered and many more in another Words Unravelled.

WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/sKcuTYOT0yY

Let's discuss the etymology of the body from "head" to "toe". Join Rob and Jess on an adventure through anatomical word origins.

👅 Why is tongue spelt that way?

🍎 What did we originally call our Adam's apple?

🍆 How did our naughty bits get their names?

These questions answered and many more in a body-positive episode of Words Unravelled.

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WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/c1PM3kbeOYY

Let this episode be music to your ears as Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris explore the melodic origins of all manner of musical words.

👦 Which instrument used to be called a "ho boy"?

🎤 What does "karaoke" literally mean?

🎷 Who is the saxophone named after?

🎶 How good is Rob's theremin impression?

These questions answered, and many more in another Words Unravelled.

WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/Kbvsg8ZPstg