Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchPrecisely how long is a 'moment'? | TIME WORDS
Episode 48
Jess and Rob present a brief history of time words in an episode filled with chronological etymology.
⌚️ How did "seconds" get their name?
🕰️ What does "clock" literally mean?
🇫🇷 How did France's de…
Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago
What was the original "blockbuster"? | MOVIE WORDS
Episode 47
Lights, camera, action! Rob and Jess are discussing movie and TV terms in this filmic episode of Words Unravelled.
🎥 Why do Brits call movies "films"?
🤷🏼♂️ Why has Allen Smithee directed so many ter…
Published on 2 months, 4 weeks ago
How can you tell a bug from a beetle? | ENTOMOLOGY ETYMOLOGY
Episode 46
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.
🕷️ Why do spiders spin "cobwebs…
Published on 3 months ago
Why is the Pope "the daddy"? | HOLY WORDS
Episode 45
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.
⛪️ What was kept in the very first chapel?
🦛 …
Published on 3 months, 1 week ago
Why do Brits think 'pants' are underwear? | CLOTHING WORDS
Episode 44
Jess and Rob are unravelling the origins of our words for fabric and clothing in this highly fashionable episode of Words Unravelled.
🩲 Why do 'pants' mean different things in the UK and US?
👖 Which…
Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Why is there an N in "passenger"? | TRANSPORTATION
Episode 43
It's time to hit the road with Rob and Jess as they journey through the origins of words from road and rail.
🚃 Why do Brits say "transport" and Americans "transportation"?
🚊 What's the difference bet…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Why were hatters mad? | IDIOM ORIGINS
Episode 42
Rob and Jess "pull out all the stops" in this episode explaining idiom origins.
✈️ Why do we say "balls to the wall" and "push the envelope"?
🐘 What's so useless about a "white elephant"?
👕 Where …
Published on 4 months ago
Is it a restroom or a loo? | UK v. US English
Episode 41
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.
…
Published on 4 months, 1 week ago
Did Shakespeare write all his plays? | THE BARD
Episode 40
We're back for a new 🇬🇧series/🇺🇸season of Words Unravelled. In this episode, transatlantic word nerds Rob and Jess tackle the truth and lies surrounding Williams Shakespeare.
✍️ Did the Bard really i…
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago
How do you pronounce lieutenant? | MILITARY WORDS
Episode 39
There's fightin' talk in this episode of Words Unravelled, in which Jess and Rob discuss words of warcraft.
🔫 Which woman are all guns named after?
🪖 Where does the word "war" come from?
👮 Is lieuten…
Published on 5 months, 1 week ago