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
Nov 22, 2018 • 21min
BTP Ep30 Thanksgiving
This week Shauna and Dan talk turkey about going cold turkey. Or something like that. Join us as we explore a few turkey and stuffing related idioms! #BunnyTrails #Podcast Links Join the Bunny Trails Community!
Nov 14, 2018 • 29min
BTPEp29 Dead Horse
Ever wonder why would anyone want to beat, or flog, a dead horse? Well wonder no more, as Shauna and Dan explore the progression from pointless act, to money owed, and eventually back to pointless act. Hint... the popularity of the phrase as we use it to day has close ties to policitics. Who'd have thunk it?!? #BunnyTrails #Podcast Links Join the Bunny Trails Community!
Oct 10, 2018 • 29min
BTP Ep28 Star Crossed Lovers
Shauna and Dan poison the star crossed lovers while struggle with pronouncing the simplest words. Towards the end, Dan drops a bombshell that shocks Shauna to her core. Check it out on #BunnyTrails! Links Join the Bunny Trails Community!
Oct 3, 2018 • 29min
BTP Ep27 Bury The Hatchet
Many of us have heard the phrase "Bury the Hatchet", but did Native American's really bury a hatchet as a sign of peace? What about tomahawks or war hatchets? Get all the knowledge this week on #BunnyTrails! Links Join the Bunny Trails Community!
Sep 19, 2018 • 31min
BTP Ep26 Right As Rain
Shauna is a pluviophile, so this week we add yet another idiom with 'rain' in the title to our repertoire. This phrase may be older than you think, but may be popular again thanks to a choice quote in everyone's favorite mindblowing movie from 1999. Join us as we delve into Right As Rain. Links Join the Bunny Trails Community!
Sep 13, 2018 • 31min
BTP Ep25 Sight For Sore Eyes
This week Shauna and Dan talk about the phrase "Sight for Sore Eyes", which is also a phrase that could be pronounced the same yet spelled drastically differently. English is fun! #bunnytrails Links Join the Bunny Trails Community!
Sep 7, 2018 • 27min
BTP Ep24 - Fight Fire With Fire
This week, Shauna and Dan tackle a listener-submitted phrase. From a battle cry to a peaceful protest they talk when you should, or shouldn't, fight fire with fire! Links Join the Bunny Trails Community!
Aug 29, 2018 • 31min
BTPEp23 Achilles Heel
This week Shauna and Dan delve into Greek mythology and discuss the origins of Achilles' Heel, both the entity and the phrase. Along the way Dan tries to remember Norse mythology while Shauna talks politics of the 1800s. #BunnyTrails Links Join the Bunny Trails Community!
Aug 22, 2018 • 32min
BTP Ep22 Charley Horse
Baseball strikes again with yet another beautiful phrase. Dan thought he would be clever and pick a medical-ish term for this week's show, but the research lead him down many an American newspaper in the 1800s reading about America's Favorite Pasttime and the injuries that plagued it's biggest stars. Links Join the Bunny Trails Community
Aug 15, 2018 • 21min
BTP Ep21 Axe To Grind
This week Shauna and Dan discuss the origins of Axe to Grind, which was made popular by old Ben while taking some interesting twists and turns to get to the phrase we know and love today! #BunnyTrails Links Join the Bunny Trails Community
