“Red Tape” and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 19)
Mar 30, 2026
07:59
forum Ask episode
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
On this episode of Our American Stories, Andrew Thompson shares another slice from his guide to unraveling the baffling mini-mysteries of the English language. His book, Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions and Fun Phrases, explores where our favorite sayings come from and what they mean. This time, Andrew shares the story of how the phrase "red tape" came to be.