

Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh
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
Mentioned books

Mar 3, 2021 • 29min
102 Beware the Ides of March
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? Again, what the heck is an Ide? Also, did Shakespeare really coin this phrase, or did he steal this one, too? Spoiler Alert: He stole it. Copyright 2021 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Feb 24, 2021 • 31min
101 Clear As A Bell
Shauna looks into the phrase "clear as a bell", which helps if you know the historical definitions of "Clear". Dan expresses his disappointment in Merriam Webster's entry of this particular phrase. There is a little bit of Edison spite, then Dan adeptly adds average alliterations. And why do some people get their private letters published and others don't? #BunnyTrails Copyright 2021 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Feb 17, 2021 • 37min
100th Episode Celebration!
Join Your Brain on Facts, Endless Knot, Vocal Fries, Lexitecture, and Sandman Stories Presents as we talk about some of our favorite phrases & language types from around the world. From Dundonian Scots eh a' i' ah to whistling languages, from being between Scylla and Charybdis to sleeping tight, spilling the beans and saying f**k it and find out, and armchair quarterbacking a dancing on your grave, we have all the fun in our 100th episode! #BunnyTrails Copyright 2021 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Feb 10, 2021 • 30min
99 Poke The Bear
In which Shauna warns against taking a bear by the tooth, Dan tries to bring back the name Ebenezer, Shauna focuses on not poking the bear, and Dan curses math and orders of magnitude. Also… they don't know anything about Canadian currency, so help them out on the socials. #BunnyTrails www.bunnytrailspod.com Become our Patron! www.patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Copyright 2021 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Feb 3, 2021 • 30min
98 Calm Before The Storm
This week Shauna and Dan take a look at the Calm Before The Storm. Then quickly learn there is SO MUCH MORE to this phrase! Join them on a whimsical adventure to explore the calm before and after the tempest. #BunnyTrails www.bunnytrailspod.com Copyright 2021 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Jan 27, 2021 • 31min
97 Fly By The Seat Of Your Pants
This week Shauna and Dan talk aviation with "Fly By The Seat of Your Pants". This is a relatively new phrase in the grand scheme of English idioms. But it still has a fun history around it! Hot air balloons, airplanes, and British trousers on this week's #BunnyTrails. Copyright 2021 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved Music by Dan Pugh Show notes, updates, and links to everything we do at www.bunnytrailspod.com

Jan 20, 2021 • 32min
96 Under the Weather
Shauna and Dan are full of joy and whimsy as they tackle a gloomy phrase in Under the Weather. Maybe it means you are sick or maybe it means you are drunk. Or in some rare cases maybe you are having some financial difficulties. But the biggest question of all... does this really have nautical origins? And if so... why do we first see it in print from a Texas Revolutionary? We have some, but not all, the answers on this week's #BunnyTrails! Copyright 2021 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Jan 13, 2021 • 29min
95 Finders Keepers
Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers! This week Shauna talks about the origins of the possibly less-than-moral proverb. But Dan starts us off with his need for routine regarding masks, then later on coins. We get one random Babylon 5 reference and the duo share parenting goals, all on this week's #BunnyTrails! Copyright 2021 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved

Jan 6, 2021 • 33min
94 Earworm
Science fiction and science fact collide this week as Shauna and Dan discuss the origins and fun pre-history of the word "earworm". And then they talk all about those songs that just won't leave your brain! But don't worry, there is hope as they talk about possible cures, too. So much practical knowledge on this week's #BunnyTrails! Readiness Corner, LLC All Rights Reserved 2021

Dec 30, 2020 • 24min
93 Neck and Neck
It's an equine spectacular! This week Shauna teaches us the fun history of "neck and neck", while Dan - punch drunk from too much 2020 - struggles to figure out how the cartoon anthropomorphic horses he has conjured in his mind would conduct a sack race. Plus, the pair struggle with math, distance, and pronunciation. It's a whimsical adventure on this week's #BunnyTrails! Readiness Corner, LLC All Rights Reserved 2020


