Ridiculous History CLASSIC: Idiomatic for the People II, Part II
Mar 14, 2026
Rowan Newby, creator of the Pitches podcast, brings researched wit and comic timing. Frank Mulherin, coiner of 'Idiomatic for the People', shares etymologies with playful storytelling. They debunk myths like 'posh', trace words such as 'craic' and 'willy-nilly', and spin a cheeky tale about 'Harbucksing the runway'. Language history meets humor in quick, curious bursts.
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Posh Origin Myth Debunked
- The popular etymology that posh stands for Port Out, Starboard Home is false and based on a charming but incorrect acronym story.
- Ben and Noel cite Snopes and logistical issues like changing sun position and scrapbooking absence of stamped tickets as disproofs.
Posh Linked To Romani Money Term
- The real earliest senses of posh tie to Romani terms meaning money, evolving by the 1830s into a sense of wealth and stylishness.
- Noel traces posh to Romani posh huri (a halfpenny) and links money to social status leading to our modern usage.
How Craic Traveled From England To Ireland And Back
- Rowan recounts how the Irish word craic (often spelled crack) travelled from Middle English/Scots usage into Irish nightlife slang and back into English.
- He describes its Gaelic rebranding, association with pubs and nightlife, and resurgence in the 1960s as an emblem of Irish party culture.