Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchExposing grammar myths and mistakes with Grammar Girl
Episode 50
Is it "on accident" or "by accident"? Should "red, white, and blue" have that second comma? Is "10 items or less" okay? Jess and Rob are joined by th…
8 months, 2 weeks ago
Why is English full of French words?
Episode 49
Bienvenue dans cet épisode de "Mot Décortiqué"! Rob and Jess are exploring the enormous influence French has had on the English language.
📊What propo…
9 months, 1 week ago
Precisely 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…
9 months, 2 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"…
9 months, 3 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 f…
9 months, 4 weeks 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 wo…
10 months 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'…
10 months, 1 week 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 Americ…
10 months, 2 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'…
10 months, 3 weeks 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 w…
11 months ago