Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - podcast cover

Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast

Shauna Harrison, Dan Pughwww.bunnytrailspod.com
Welcome 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!

Episodes

278 Pay the Piper

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Pay the Piper. Bonus: Multicolored musicians, English History, and Horror Stories It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our website, bunnytrailspod.com Copyright 202...

May 28, 202532 minSeason 8Ep. 278

277 Throw Down the Gauntlet

This week Shauna and Dan Throw Down the Gauntlet to see what origin story comes out on top. Bonus: Secret Societies, Wizardless Duels, and 80s movies Dan hasn't seen It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our we...

May 21, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 277

276 Run into the Ground

This week Shauna and Dan are feeling run into the ground. Join as they explore the possible origins of this phrase from farming to hunting and nautical to nonsense. Bonus: 17 less ads than Divorce Court in 1961 It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrail...

May 14, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 276

275 Pay the Ferryman

This week Shauna and Dan have to pay the ferryman. Well, not exactly. Bonus: Charon, Commodores, and Chris de Burgh It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our website, bunnytrailspod.com Copyright 2025 All Right...

May 07, 202532 minSeason 8Ep. 275

274 Mums the Word

This week Shauna and Dan speak out against the silence with the phrase, Mums the Word. Bonus: Workers Rights, Charley's Men, and Stokyn Lyppis It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our website, bunnytrailspod.c...

Apr 30, 202532 minSeason 8Ep. 274

RETRO 114 In the Same Boat

RETRO: This week Shauna and Dan ponder whether or not we are all in the same boat, or if we are just in the same body of water with some people on yachts while others are in little rowboats. Bonus: Egg frying, white-washed war bond ads, and Dan's great-great-grandmothers newspaper Originally aired June 23, 2021 It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more pe...

Apr 23, 202532 minSeason 8Ep. 114

RETRO 118 Bob's Your Uncle

This week Shauna and Dan get near the bottom of this elusive phrase. Bob's Your Uncle has several origin stories, but there's always been a missing link between the most popular story and the first time it could be verified in print. Well, until now. Check out this breaking news in the world of 130-year-old phrases! Originally aired July 28, 2021. It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats an...

Apr 16, 202532 minSeason 8Ep. 118

273 Shoot for the Moon

This week Shauna and Dan shoot for the moon! Bonus: A man in a button factory, Debunking internet myths, and Steve Irwin saves the day It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved...

Apr 09, 202534 minSeason 8Ep. 273

272 Diamond in the Rough

This week Shauna and Dan look into diamond in the rough and the two contemporary phases that merged to give us this phrase. Bonus: Dan learns something new, Your hosts accidentally take on the diamond cartel, and Shauna talks about a prison newspaper Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Apr 02, 202529 minSeason 8Ep. 272

271 Public Enemy Number One

This week is a wild ride as Shauna and Dan explore the phrase Public Enemy No 1. Bonus: Poetic lyrical sons, Al Capone, and that time President Lincoln was taken hostage by... John Dillinger? Told you it would be a wild ride. Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Mar 26, 202536 minSeason 8Ep. 271

270 Bite My Head Off

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Bite My Head Off. Which feels better than the earlier version of this phrase. Bonus: Grump Valentines, Chocolate Bunnies, and Praying Mantises all the way down Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Mar 19, 202525 minSeason 8Ep. 270

269 Fork in the Road

This week Shauna and Dan discuss the fork in the road. Not ours, mind you. But someone's fork. Probably. Bonus: Religious parables, Yogi Berra, and Misremembering poems Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Mar 12, 202533 minSeason 8Ep. 269

RETRO 102 Beware the Ides of March

RETRO Episode: What are Ides? Why should we Beware the Ides of March? Should we beware the Ides of other months? Do other months even have Ides? Bonus: Calends, Nones, and Caesars Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Mar 05, 202531 minSeason 8Ep. 102

268 Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

This week Shauna and Dan wait for the other shoe to drop. Dan gets really excited to hear the rather basic origins of this phrase. Bonus: Boarding houses, Bob Cross, and park benches Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Feb 26, 202532 minSeason 8Ep. 268

267 Rack My Brain

This week Shauna and Dan rack their brains to think of good phrases to explore. Okay, that was a bad joke. But rack my brain is a fun episode. Trust us. Bonus: Beatles, Rebuses, and rack vs wrack Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Feb 19, 202533 minSeason 8Ep. 267

266 Throw in the Towel

This week Shauna and Dan throw in the towel. Well, not really. Though Shauna did note we should have saved this phrase for our last episode. Alas. Bonus: Entrepreneurs, rich hillbillies, and so many boxing movies Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Feb 12, 202528 minSeason 8Ep. 266

265 Stick to Your Ribs

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Stick to Your Ribs. Bonus: Visits from series regulars John Ray, Edmund Burke, and Louise Pound, plus our favorite stick to your ribs books. Also, mac-daddi-roni! Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Feb 05, 202532 minSeason 8Ep. 265

264 Jump Through Hoops

This week Shauna and Dan try to track down the figurative use of Jump Through Hoops, since people have literally been jumping through hoops since hoops were invented. Bonus: Shauna's hoops, bill paying in the 90s, and how your hosts brains work Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Jan 29, 202529 minSeason 8Ep. 264

263 Canary in a Coal Mine

This week Shauna and Dan find out why there were canaries in coal mines, giving us this common phrase. Bonus: Anthropomorphic birds, the black lung, and that time in the late 80s when we solved a climate crisis through international cooperation Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Jan 22, 202533 minSeason 8Ep. 263

262 The Lions Share

This week Shauna and Dan take The Lion's Share. Apparently, this concept has been around since before English. (Shauna says Aesop didn't speak English. Citation Needed.) Bonus: Cheese mongers, pumpkin pies, and Walter with a banana joke Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Jan 15, 202528 min

261 Cut the Mustard

This week Shauna and Dan look into the phrase "Cut the Mustard". Does this originate with the yellow mustard stuff, or perhaps from a mishearing of a military term? Bonus: Old political parties, bad internet habits, and a silly commercial from the 1980s Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Jan 08, 202532 minSeason 8Ep. 261

260 New Lease on Life

This week Shauna and Dan get a new lease on life. Well, they look into the phrase, anyway. Bonus: Rhyming poems, sad commercials, and a hoarders dream come true! Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

Jan 01, 202529 minSeason 8Ep. 260

259 Words Christmas Gave Us with Grace Tierney

This week Shauna and Dan are joined by 'Words Christmas Gave Us' author Grace Tierney to talk about Christmas, Boxing Day (St. Stephens Day if you are in Ireland - Do NOT make that mistake), and fun holiday traditions. Happy holidays from all of us at Bunny Trails! Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Dec 18, 202431 minSeason 7Ep. 259

258 Christmas Spirit

It's that time of year! Shauna and Dan deep dive into the holiday phrase, Christmas Spirit. The feeling, not the ghosts. Bonus: Curmudgeonly old men, spirits pitching the Christmas spirit, and the great bagel vs donut debate. Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Dec 11, 202431 minSeason 7Ep. 258

257 Third Time's the Charm

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, "Third Time's the Charm". Dan finally connects the dots on some similar phrases, too. Bonus: Existential dread, sandwich annihilation, and quilt-making in a weekend. Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Dec 04, 202431 minSeason 7Ep. 257

256 Riding the Gravy Train

This week Shauna and Dan call all aboard on the Gravy Train. Bonus: Dubious origins, bad maths, Pink Floyd, and poutine. Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Nov 27, 202432 minSeason 7Ep. 256

255 Light Years Ahead

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase Light Years Ahead. Bonus: Science terms, surprise parties, and how to live your best life - through organizational development. Probably. Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Nov 20, 202429 minSeason 7Ep. 255

254 Hindsight is 2020

This week Shauna and Dan look back into the past to discover the origins of the phrase, Hindsight is 20/20. Bonus: Snellen Charts, Astronauts, and the Red Green Nation Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Nov 13, 202431 minSeason 7Ep. 254

253 Clear the Air

This week Shauna and Dan look into the phrase, 'Clear the Air' in both its literal and figurative forms. Bonus: Winds of truth, Dan's brilliance, and the little lies we tell Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Nov 06, 202431 minSeason 7Ep. 253

252 Skeleton in the Closet

This week Shauna and Dan explore the Skeleton in the Closet, sometimes known as the Skeleton in the Cupboard. Bonus: Gravestone battles, Jazz music, and literal skeletons in cupboards. Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

Oct 30, 202434 minSeason 7Ep. 252
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