History of Everyday Sayings

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.---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/---Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com.. Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com.---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.

In this episode you discover the origin and meaning of the 600-year old phrase, "Red-Handed" and how it entered Western legal proceedings. ---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---Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---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. ---Keywords:Scottish Law, Scotland,

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---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---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).---Keywords:Philadelphia, Thanksgiving, holiday_shopping,

In this episode, you discover the origin and true meaning of "Raising Cain".Resources for further study:"What is the meaning of the phrase raising Cain?". GotQuestions.org. Link: https://www.gotquestions.org/raising-Cain.html"What's the meaning of the phrase 'Raise Cain'?". "Phrase Finder". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/raising-cain.html---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Hush, Levelator, Audyllic, and Soften. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Rode Procaster.---Keywords:Cain, Abel, Bible, Old Testament, Genesis,

In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the phrase, "Pie in the Sky". In addition, you'll discover the meaning of two vocabulary words, Lugubrious and Montage.Resources:"Pie In The Sky: Definition, Meaning, and Origin". "U.S. Dictionary". Link: https://usdictionary.com/idioms/pie-in-the-sky/"Pie in the sky". "Phrase Finder". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/pie-in-the-sky.html"Joe Hill- The Preacher and the Slave (Performed by Utah Phillips). YouTube.com. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2tyW-68iik&list=RDM2tyW-68iik&start_radio=1---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information: Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Edits included "Smooth" at 30%. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Hush, Levelator, and Audyllic. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Rode Procaster.---Key word: Joe Hill,

In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of "Paint the town" and "Paint the town red". ---Sources:"Paint the town red". Phrases.org. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/paint-the-town-red.html"A HYPOTHESIS AS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE ‘TO PAINT THE TOWN RED’".  "Word Histories". https://wordhistories.net/2016/08/26/paint-the-town-red/#:~:text=7%2D:%20A%20SPREE%20AT%20MELTON%20MOWBRAY%2C%20LEICESTERSHIRE%2C%20IN%201837&text=an%20actual%20piece%20of%20drunken,and%20only%20Paint%20at%20Night.&text=Untouched%20by%20something%20most%20appalling"Why do we say ‘Paint the town red’?". "History Extra". Link: https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/paint-town-red-why-say-origins-meaning-history/---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.---Key words:Paint the town red,  Marquis_of_Waterford,

In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the saying, "Dead Ringer". You also learn the false persistent myth - spread on Facebook - as to the origin of the phrase.Word of the day: Rubicon. Definition and history shared in episode.---Sources:"Phrase origins linked to burials is dead wrong" by David Williams. AAP FactCheck. Link: https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/phrase-origins-linked-to-burials-is-dead-wrong/"A Dead Ringer". Phrase Finder. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/dead-ringer.html---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded with Audio Hijack. Edits with Twisted Wave, Audacity (noise reduction, click removal), Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and renderting with Hindenburg Pro to include generic voice profiler. Microphone: SE DynaCaster DCM8.---Key words:rubicon, crossing_the_rubicon, graveyard_shift, saved_by_the_bell,

In this episode you discover the meaning and reported potential origins of the saying, "Get Your Ducks in a Row". You also discover this episode's "Word of the Day", Magnanimous.Sources:"Why Do We Say “Get Your Ducks in a Row”?". WordSmarts.com. Link: https://wordsmarts.com/ducks-in-a-row/"Museum Minute: The surprising origin of the phrase, ‘get your ducks in a row'". WyomingPublicMedia.org. Link: https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/show/wyoming-minute/2024-06-06/the-surprising-origin-of-the-phrase-get-your-ducks-in-a-row"Ducks in a Row – Meaning and Origin". Grammarist.com. Link: https://grammarist.com/idiom/get-ones-ducks-in-a-row-and-have-ones-ducks-in-a-row/---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Audacity, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.---

In this episode you discover the origin and true meaning of the sayings, "Spill the Beans" and "Spill the Tea".  References for more information:"Where Does the Phrase 'Spilling the Beans' Come From?". "Readers Digest. Link: "https://www.rd.com/article/spill-the-beans-meaning/"Spill the Beans | Meaning, Origin & Examples". Quillbot.com. Link: https://quillbot.com/blog/idioms/spill-the-beans/“Spill the Tea” – Meaning & Origin (With Examples). "GrammerHow.com". Link: https://grammarhow.com/spill-the-tea-meaning-origin/---Host: Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Hush, Levelator, and Audyllic. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.---

In this episode, you discover the origin and true meaning of the phrase, "Take it with a grain of salt".---Resources:"Take It With a Grain of Salt | Meaning & Examples". Quilbot.com. Link: https://quillbot.com/blog/idioms/take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt/"Where Did the Phrase “Take It with a Grain of Salt” Come From?". Reader's Digest. Link: https://www.rd.com/article/take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt/"The Ancient Origins Behind The Phrase 'Grain Of Salt'Read More: https://www.thedailymeal.com/1170576/the-ancient-origins-behind-the-phrase-grain-of-salt/"Take This Article with a Grain of Salt".  Link: https://allthewhyser.wordpress.com/2021/10/11/take-this-article-with-a-grain-of-salt/---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amedus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: ProAR C-414.

As youngsters interact, sooner or later one young person will challenge another to do something dangerous, stupid, or pointless. Phrases like, "I dare you", "I double dare you", and - when those words don't get the desired effect - the challenge will be elevated to, "I double dog dare you!".  In this episode you discover how old this challenge is and how it came to be.---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com.---Resources:"Double-dog dare".  Website: Phrases.org.uk. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/26/messages/1216.html"Where Does the Term ‘Double Dog Dare’ Come From?". Mental Floss. Link: https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/double-dog-dare-origins#:~:text=All%20it%20really%20takes%20is,the%20dreaded%20triple%20dog%20dare."go to the dogs". Vocabulary.com. Link: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/go%20to%20the%20dogs#Technical information:Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Audacity (de-click and de-esser), Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.

In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the phrase, "The fly in the ointment".---References:"A fly in the ointmen". "Grammarphobia". Link: https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2021/04/fly-in-the-ointment.html"A fly in the ointment". "Phrase Finder". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fly-in-the-ointment.html"Weather Words: Fly In The Ointment". "Weather Underground". Link: https://www.wunderground.com/article/science/weather-explainers/news/2025-01-03-weather-words-fly-in-the-ointment-2024"Fly in the ointment". Wikipedia.org. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_in_the_ointment---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com.---Technical information:Recorded with Ocenaudio. Edits with Twisted Wave, Hush, and Levelator. Spectral edits with Ocenaudio. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.---

In this episode you'll discover the meaning and origin of the phrase, "Bury the Hatchet".Sources:"'Stand your butt up': Fistfight nearly breaks out during Senate hearing until Bernie Sanders steps in". NBC News. Link: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/stand-butt-fistfight-nearly-breaks-senate-hearing-bernie-sanders-steps-rcna125140"Hatchet". Wikipedia.org. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatchet#:~:text=A%20hatchet%20(from%20the%20Old,hammerhead%20on%20the%20other%20side."What's the meaning of the phrase 'Bury the hatchet'?" PhrasesFinder.com.UK. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bury-the-hatchet.html#google_vignette"Burying the hatchet". Wikipedia.org. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burying_the_hatchet---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded with Audio Hijack. Edits with Twisted Wave, Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro to include VEA plugin. Microphone: Eathworks Ethos.---

Merriam-Webster dictionary added 200 words and phrases in 2024. Other dictionaries added even more. In this episode you and I explore some of the new most interesting and unusual words, phases, and slang that have found there way into dictionaries and daily use.---Sources cited in this episode:"Origin and Real Meaning for 'Good Enough for Government Work'". Podcast epiisode from "History of Everyday Sayings". Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/origin-and-real-meaning-for-good-enough-for-government-work/id1496058540?i=1000567862353"‘Bed Rotting,’ ‘Girl Dinner,’ and Dictionary.com’s New 2024 Words". Time.com. Link: https://time.com/6694485/bed-rotting-girl-dinner-barbiecore-dictionary-words/"Winter 2023 New Words: “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once”". Dictionary.com. Link: https://www.dictionary.com/e/new-dictionary-words-winter-2023/"A Guide to American Slang Words in 2024". Shorelight.com. Link: https://shorelight.com/student-stories/a-guide-to-american-slang-words-in-2024/"Teen Slang Words in 2024: A Dictionary for Parents". Parents.com. Link: https://www.parents.com/teen-slang-dictionary-for-parents-8547711#:~:text=Dope%20%2D%20Cool%20or%20awesome"‘Touch grass,’ ‘For You page’: See 200 new words and phrases added to Merriam-Webster". NPR.org. Link: https://www.npr.org/2024/10/04/g-s1-26417/new-words-phrases-added-merriam-webster"200 New Words and Definitions Added to Merriam-Webster.com". Merriam-Webster.com. Link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/new-words-in-the-dictionary---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReleaseRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Hush, Levelator, VEA, with final edits in Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: CAD E100Sx. ---Key words: Wordsmith, logophile,

In this episode you discover the original meaning, the current meaning, and origin of the phrase, "Fish or Cut Bait".---Sources - citations:Author Candace Osmond; from "GRAMMARIST". "Fish or Cut Bait – Meaning, Synonym and Origin". Link: https://grammarist.com/idiom/fish-or-cut-bait/"Fish or cut bait". "Dictionary.com". Link: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fish-or-cut-bait"Fish or cut bait". "Phrase Finder". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fish-or-cut-bait.htmlVarious sources identified by "Bing.com". Link: https://www.bing.com/search?q=origin+of+%22Fish+or+cut+bait%22&form=ANNTH1&refig=8AC3DABB399F4FAF90ADF72435A6CD44&pc=U531---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Hush and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.---

In this episode you and I investigate the origin and meaning of "Leave no stone unturned". You'll discover it's how it's history extends back more than 2,000 years and when it found it's way into English.---Sources:"Leave no stone unturned". Dictionary.com. Link: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/leave--no--stone--unturned#"Leave No Stone Unturned". "TheIdioms.com". Link: https://www.theidioms.com/leave-no-stone-unturned/#google_vignette"The Origin of the Phrase "Leave No Stone Unturned": Unraveling It's History and Meaning". Link: https://symbolgenie.com/origin-of-phrase-leave-no-stone-unturned/"Meaning and origin of ‘to leave no stone unturned’". WordHistories.net. Link: https://wordhistories.net/2017/03/24/to-leave-no-stone-unturned/---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Hush, Levelator, with final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: CAD E1000Sx.---

In this episode you discover the defination and origin history of the saying, "By Hook or by Crook". We also look at the historical use of "Crook" and "Crooked".Sources:"What's the meaning of the phrase 'By hook or by crook'?". "Phrase Finder". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/by-hook-or-by-crook.html"Definition of 'crook'". "Collins Dictionary". Link: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/crook---Host:Stephen Carter - https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded with Audacity. Edits with Twisted Wave, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits to include use of VEA plugin with Hindenburg Journalist Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.---

In this episode you discover the meaning and origin of this centuries old phrase, "If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride".  You'll also learn other surprising related sayings.---Sources:"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". Phrase Finder. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/if-wishes-were-horses-beggers-would-ride.html"IF WISHES WERE HORSES, BEGGARS WOULD RIDE".  "The Idioms". Link: https://www.theidioms.com/if-wishes-were-horses-beggars-would-ride/"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". Wikipedia. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_wishes_were_horses,_beggars_would_ride#:~:text=%22If%20wishes%20were%20horses%2C%20beggars,would%20have%20everything%20they%20wanted.If Wishes Were Horses - The Salon. Link: https://ifwishes.com/about-the-name/Note: The copyright for each content source shared above is owned by the respective authors. Copyright for commentary about those sources and other comments shared in this episode is owned by Stephen Carter---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded with Audacity. Edits with Twisted Wave, Levelator, Hush. Final edits with Hindenburg Pro including VEA plugin. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.---Key words: William Camden, James Carmichael, 

In this episode you and I explore the true meaning and origin of the phrase, "Hit the Nail on the Head". We also look at two other phrases related to hammers and nails.References:Meaning of "Hit the Nail on the Head" from Ginger Software. Link: https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/phrases/hit-the-nail-on-the-head#"The meaning and origin of the expression: Hit the nail on the head". Phrase Finder. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/hit-the-nail-on-the-head.html"What is the original meaning of the phrase "to hit the nail on the head"? Where does this idiom originate from?". Quara.com. Link: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-original-meaning-of-the-phrase-to-hit-the-nail-on-the-head-Where-does-this-idiom-originate-fromJapanese saying: "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." WikiPedia.com. Link: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/the_nail_that_sticks_out_gets_hammered_down#:~:text=(idiomatic)%20Those%20who%20are%20too,criticized%20or%20sanctioned%20by%20others."Nail in the / someone's coffin". "Merrium-Webster". Link: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20nail%20in%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20coffin#:~:text=idiom,nail%20in%20her%20coffin%20today.Note: Copyright for all quoted and referenced information belongs to the sources. Commentary and other content copyright by Stephen Carter.---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded with Hindenburg Pro. Edits with Twisted Wave, Hush, Levelator, final edits and rendering in Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.---

In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the phrase, "The devil is in the details".Citations / sources:"What Does The Devil Is in the Details Mean? (Dissecting This Idiom)". "wikiHow". Link: https://www.wikihow.com/The-Devil-Is-in-the-Details#"The Phrase Finder". "The meaning and origin of the expression: The devil is in the details". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-devil-is-in-the-details.html"The devil is in the details". "WikiPedia". Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_devil_is_in_the_details#cite_note-Titelman-1---Host:Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com  -  Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com---Technical information:Recorded with Hindenburg Pro. Edits with Twisted Wave, Levelator, and Hush. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: SE Dynacaster DCM8.---