Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins

Whole 9 Yards is a weekly podcast that will simultaneously educate, astonish, and amuse. Listen while we share equivocal research about the origin of words, phrases, and idioms we use every day. From the team at Big Science Pods, we bring you the whole 9 yards, the entire kit and caboodle, the whole shebang of this quick, entertaining look at our language and the history therein. Learn why we call New York "The Big Apple," what "red-handed" REALLY means and why sometimes people are "happy as a clam." So, let's cut to the chase, if you jump on the bandwagon now, the first 100 subscribers will be entered to win a Big Science Snuggie. Have a question about an idiom? Wanna drop us a line because you think we’re funny... or, not? Think we’re mistaken about any information we’ve shared? Hit us up at heyyou@whole9yards.org. We’re waiting with bated breath!

Episodes

W9Y Goes Tit for Tat

Episode 203: Jay & Ray enjoy the scent of some idioms.p.u.tit for tatSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

May 08, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 316 • 31:09

W9Y: A Bellwether Of Podcasting Excellence

Episode 315: Jay & Ray have some piping hot idioms.piping hotbellwetherSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

May 01, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 315 • 36:28

W9Y Has Skin In The Game

Episode 314: Jay & Ray have some skin in the game.skin in the gametrip the light fantasticSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

April 24, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 314 • 29:04

W9Y Takes The Court

Episode 313: Jay & Ray take a few old idioms to court.break the icekangaroo courtSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

April 17, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 313 • 30:54

W9Y In a Nutshell

Episode 312: Jay & Ray slice up some old food idioms.cheesyin a nutshellSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

April 10, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 312 • 33:59

W9Y Has Sour Grapes

Episode 311: Jay & Ray hash out some food idioms.sour grapesjust dessertsSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

April 03, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 311 • 24:36

W9Y Takes the Stage

Episode 310: Jay & Ray take a thunderous approach to old etymologies.steal your thunderwhy is Macbeth referred to as 'The Scottish Play?'Subscribe, review, and come find us on

March 27, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 310 • 38:14

W9Y Gets Stingy

Episode 309: Jay & Ray toast to some new idioms.here's mud in your eyestingySubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

March 20, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 309 • 32:24

W9Y Is Hell Bent For Leather

Episode 308: Jay & Ray stitch up a few old idioms.know the ropeshell bent for leatherSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

March 13, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 308 • 35:48

W9Y Has Odds and Ends

Episode 307: Jay & Ray learn about a few old odds and ends.scuttlebuttodds and endsExpressway (To Your Heart)Subscribe, review, and come...

March 06, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 307 • 29:08

W9Y Explores the Arctic

Episode 306: Jay & Ray get chilly with a few old idioms.full borearcticSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

February 27, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 306 • 34:47

W9Y Gets Zesty

Episode 305: Jay & Ray take a bite of out of old food idioms.carboyzestSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

February 20, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 305 • 37:42

W9Y Is Hokum

Episode 304: Jay & Ray pull a old magical idioms out of their hats.open sesamehokumSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

February 13, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 304 • 30:11

W9Y Is Over This

Episode 303: Jay & Ray are over a barrel. - Encoreover your skiisover a barrelSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

February 06, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 303 • 39:39

W9Y Has a Hankering for Idioms

Episode 302: Jay & Ray are beside themselves with (old) idioms. - Encorehankeringbeside yourselfSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky

January 30, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 302 • 30:48

W9Y Gets Egg On Our Face

Episode 301: Jay & Ray get hungry for (old) foodioms. - Encoreham-fistedegg on your faceHambone Blues by Milton Brown / 1936Subscribe, review...

January 23, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 301 • 31:15

W9Y Gets Cold Feet

Episode 300: Jay & Ray grab a few cold ones. -Encorecold feettie one onSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

January 16, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 300 • 25:56

W9Y Takes an L

Episode 299: Jay & Ray get a little lazy. - Encorelazy susanlo and beholdSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

January 09, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 299 • 38:57

W9Y Kibitzes About Idioms

Episode 298: Jay & Ray kibitz over some old idioms. - EncorerogerkibitzSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

January 02, 2026 • Season 5 • Episode 298 • 29:44

W9Y Trims the Tree

Episode 297: Jay & Ray get festive with a few sparkle season idioms. - Encoredeck the hallstrim the treeSubscribe, review, and come find us on B...

December 26, 2025 • Season 5 • Episode 297 • 35:04

W9Y Takes A Few Nips

Episode 296: Jay & Ray drink up some old idioms. -EncorenipmoochSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

December 19, 2025 • Season 5 • Episode 296 • 33:40

W9Y Supports Latchkey Kids

Episode 295: Jay & Ray talk to some people about idioms. - Encorelatchkey kidbuckarooSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

December 12, 2025 • Season 5 • Episode 295 • 33:16

W9Y Is Rooting For You

Episode 294: Jay & Ray leaf through some old foliage idioms. - Encoreroot forbushedSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

December 05, 2025 • Season 5 • Episode 294 • 33:20

W9Y Talks Turkey

Episode 293: Jay & Ray get hungry for some old thanksgiving foodioms. -Encoretalk turkeyeasy as pieSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSk...

November 28, 2025 • Season 5 • Episode 293 • 28:34

W9Y Punches Up

Episode 292: Jay & Ray knock out some old idioms. - Encorecold cockedbeats meSubscribe, review, and come find us on BlueSky,

November 21, 2025 • Season 5 • Episode 292 • 26:45