Claim OwnershipWords Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
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Β© Rob Watts & Jess Zafarris
Description
Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts unravel the stories behind everyday words.
Want to watch our episodes too? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA
Want to watch our episodes too? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA
60Β Episodes
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1In this episode, Jess and Rob 'spill the beans' about all manner of food-related idioms.
π Why does 'going bananas' mean going mad?
βοΈ Who is the Joe in a 'cup of Joe'?
π What did we compare apples to before oranges?
π§
What does it really mean to 'know your onions'?
Answers to these questions and many more as we explore the origins of commons sayings in Words Unravelled.
OTHER IDIOM EPISODES
https://youtu.be/Fkf61-j8VmQ?si=3GWneox_uAN1NsXI
https://youtu.be/ca3lz3dXgW8?si=9D_DE4-MiJ9jV5IK
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
π₯ WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/6Rr6qfIIapY
==LINKS==
Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwords
Jess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/
Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt
Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris
In this episode, Rob and Jess take a right royal romp through the etymologies of eminent titles. They discuss the origins of words like "lord", "emperor", "queen" and a whole host of others:
ποΈ How did Caesar become a title all over Europe?
π What did 'pharaoh' mean to the ancient Egyptians?
πΒ What is the etymology of the word 'king'?
π³οΈ What is a 'timocracy' or a 'kakistocracy?
These questions answered β and many more β in another Words Unravelled.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
π₯ WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/MrsqUCgXGBk
Weβre digging into prehistoric word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob unearth the literal meanings behind the names of the dinosaurs.
π¦ What does Tyrannosaurus rex really mean?
π¦ Why is Stegosaurus called the βroof lizardβ?
π¦ Are dinosaurs birds or lizards?
𦴠Are dinosaur names Latin or Greek?
These questions answered β and many more β in another monstrous episode of Words Unravelled.
π LINKS π
Charlie the Unicorn: https://youtu.be/CsGYh8AacgY?si=s0AwwpXqwB_1_GhX
Rob's dinosaur video: https://youtu.be/7FOamlJf-28?si=sKbN6Bjw0s7LukG7
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
π₯ WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/y0Bv7Rt2L54
We're taking a world tour of word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob discuss how a multitude of countries got their names.
πΊπΈ Where was the original "America"?
π¬π§ Why is Britain called "Great"?
π¨π¦ What does "Canada" mean?
π©πͺ Why do the Germans call themselves "Dutch"?
These questions answered β and many more β in another worldly wise episode of Words Unravelled.
π LINKS π
Rob's UK country names video: https://youtu.be/aXAjMlTO7Dc?si=DpZ8oZlH8h6iVX0O
Rob's European countries video: https://youtu.be/2Pcv2ySMi40?si=4YQMmeUL4FcPBOn7
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/HJVrBYFf4Ps
BREAKING: Rob and Jess uncover news clichΓ©s and weird journalistic words.Β
πΊ Why do TV news anchors talk in that strange way?
ποΈ Why do newspaper journalists spell lead as "lede"?
π€ Why do journalists use clichΓ©s like "on the rise"?
π What is a "knobbly monster"?
These questions answered β and many more β in another hot-off-the-press episode of Words Unravelled.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/Q_A1OtVd8RA
Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary was one heck of an achievement. But it is also far from perfect. In this episode, Jess and Rob discuss some of the more amusing entries within its pages, and even the words that landed dear Samuel in hot water. Enjoy this cover-to-cover exploration of English's most important dictionary and the extraordinary man who wrote it.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
π JESS'S BOOK π
Bookshop . org: tinyurl.com/UselessEty
Amazon: tinyurl.com/UselessEtyAZ
B&N: tinyurl.com/UselessEtyBN
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/GW0em6wW15A
Welcome aboard flight WU321 bound for Etymology Island. In this episode, Rob and Jess take to the skies and soar through the word origins of a multitude of aviation terms.
βοΈ Is it an 'airplane' or an 'aeroplane'?
π Why do pilots sit in a 'cockpit'?
π©οΈ Why is English the language of aviation?
π How did the NATO alphabet come to be?
These questions answered β and many more β in a high-flying episode of Words Unravelled charting the etymology of flight.
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π₯ WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/v2pWWECvdvc
In for a penny, in for a pound: Rob and Jess discuss money word origins in this episode of Words Unravelled.
π° Where did the dollar sign come from?
π· What is the British currency a pound of?
π€ Which goddess is all money named after?
These questions answered β and many more β in another financially sound episode of Words Unravelled.
π VOTE FOR US π
The British Podcast Awards listeners' choice award: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/...
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreads...
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π₯ WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/iUnj_TSLqgwΒ
Jess and Rob have got their heads in the clouds, exploring the origins of our words for weather.
βοΈ Why don't meteorologists deal with meteors?
βοΈ How are we using the wrong word for 'cloud'?
βοΈ What was the original 'raincheck'?
π€¬ Why does Jess hate the word 'petrichor'?
These questions answered, and many more, in this etymological meteorological episode of Words Unravelled.
π LINKS π
Our games video (re: chess): https://youtu.be/vBa8CIltJ24?si=BxcDAYTk7yLYq5ja
Our Christmas video (re: reindeer): https://youtu.be/9A0hAxeFyo4?si=ECL0SFZJUcKUo50L
Rob's video about ugly and beautiful words: https://youtu.be/hh5yEKPNEtM?si=LMvCxuv7KvH4E23T
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/JC79Go-MmaE
Is it "on accident" or "by accident"? Should "red, white, and blue" have that second comma? Is "10 items or less" okay? Jess and Rob are joined by the internet's Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty, to examine some common grammatical myths and mistakes.
π₯³ Is it wrong to use "fun" as an adjective?
ποΈ Is "drive SLOW" bad grammar? (or just a flat adverb?)
π₯ Why does "tonic and gin" sound weird?
These questions answered, as well as many more, on Words Unravelled.
Mignon's podcast: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl/
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/9C9nvVUEuOI
Bienvenue dans cet Γ©pisode de "Mot DΓ©cortiquΓ©"! Rob and Jess are exploring the enormous influence French has had on the English language.Β
πWhat proportion of English words are French?
π₯©Why do our meats have French names?
π«π·Which words have we borrowed from French twice?
These questions answered and many, many more in another merveilleux, fabuleux Words Unravelled.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/PfK6C7NASqQ
Jess and Rob present a brief history of time words in an episode filled with chronological etymology.
βοΈ How did "seconds" get their name?
π°οΈ What does "clock" literally mean?
π«π· How did France's decimal calendar work?
These questions answered β and so many more β in this timely episode of Words Unravelled.
Our mythology episode: https://youtu.be/b8s2uxWrMhQ?si=G--tQQwAj9mKHk-S
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/-nhPlHrJDsQ
Lights, camera, action! Rob and Jess are discussing movie and TV terms in this filmic episode of Words Unravelled.
π₯ Why do Brits call movies "films"?
π€·πΌββοΈ Why has Allen Smithee directed so many terrible movies?
π Why is there a "dead cat" on every Hollywood set?
These questions answered, and many more, in this episode crammed with film and television etymology.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreads...
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreads...
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/wtOpyi_xjKw
Time for some entomology etymology! Rob and Jess will have you in bits as they explore the literal meaning of "insect" and all manner of other term for creepy crawly.
π·οΈ Why do spiders spin "cobwebs"?
π¦ Was a butterfly ever a "flutterby"?
π Which is older, "ladybug" or "ladybird"?
These questions answered, and many more, a critter-crammed episode of Words Unravelled.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/Iw3nl9Xyjik
Holy heck! Rob and Jess are back with an episode of biblical proportions. Join them as they get to the gospel truth about the origins of religious words.
βͺοΈ What was kept in the very first chapel?
π¦ Which animal was the original behemoth?
ποΈ Where does the word "conclave" come from?
These questions answered β and many more β in another Words Unravelled.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
πWATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/Gvyn8XrBinU
Jess and Rob are unravelling the origins of our words for fabric and clothing in this highly fashionable episode of Words Unravelled.
π©² Why do 'pants' mean different things in the UK and US?
π Which city are your jeans named after?
πͺΆ What's flappy about a 'flapper girl'?
βοΈ Is 'nylon' really named after New York and London?
These questions answered, and many more, in our most unravelly episode of Words Unravelled.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/s9B1o2ydCmg
It's time to hit the road with Rob and Jess as they journey through the origins of words from road and rail.
π Why do Brits say "transport" and Americans "transportation"?
π What's the difference between a train and a locomotive?
π How do you actually pronounce Hyundai?
These questions answered β and many more β in this transport[ation] special of Words Unravelled.
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/kf81cdpXteA
Rob and Jess "pull out all the stops" in this episode explaining idiom origins.Β
βοΈ Why do we say "balls to the wall" and "push the envelope"?Β
π What's so useless about a "white elephant"?Β
π 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
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
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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.Β
Our previous πΊπΈ vs. π¬π§ episode
πΊ https://youtu.be/o6KlBd7TPFI?si=EHmBIMV3PatoSQi9
π https://pod.fo/e/240f60
π OUR MERCH π
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
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π₯ Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/kf6zkx3Zg_4
We're back for a new π¬π§series/πΊπΈseason of Words Unravelled. In this episode, transatlantic word nerds Rob and Jess tackle the truth and lies surrounding Williams Shakespeare.
βοΈ Did the Bard really invent 1,700 words?
π€¬ Which insults did Willy give us?
π Could he actually have written all of those plays?
These questions answered and many more, just As You Like It.
π OUR MERCH π
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United States
There is no question in my mind that the on accident/by accident influence had to have been "Sesame Street".
What about someone who is on a fast, like Ramadan or Lent?
Buckle up, pun lovers! Today, weβre taking a joyride through the humorous highway of driving puns. Fasten your seatbelts; itβs going to be a punny ride. https://punfinity.com/driving-puns/
brilliant, grew up with British English, but think the is a lot that the Septics get right