Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.
Word History is a podcast for people who enjoy words and history.
Each episode takes a small set of words linked to a theme. You'll hear what they mean, where they come from and which familiar words share the same linguistic roots, along with stories from the past related to their use.
Listen for words that sharpen expression, and brief histories that show how ideas and practices, as well as language, took shape. Across an archive of more than a hundred episodes, you'll find explanations of word, name and phrase origins.
The majority of etymologies featured return to Old English, Ancient Greek, Latin and Old French, providing a look into languages of the past that underpin English.
New episodes on Sundays.
Play the daily word game Derivety: https://derivety.com
Get in touch: https://etymoleon.com
Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.
86. Names: Sayings
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This episode looks at the origins of names used in common sayings, uncovering the theories behind how these phrases came about and tracing the names to their historical linguistic roots. Gordon Bennett is linked to the son of a newspaper entrepreneur, while Flash Harry may have been inspired by a well-known conductor. The phrase Bob's your uncle could have ties to a popular music hall song from the early 20th century. Jack the Lad refers to a real historical figure whose reckless lifestyle led to an early demise — find out how Jack became a familiar form of the name John. A saintly person might be playfully called Mother Teresa; listen to uncover the meaning behind her real birth name.