From cold feet to getting something off your chest, we use body-based idioms every day to express doubt, love, relief, embarrassment—and everything in between. In this episode of Lexiconned , TJ dives into 15 popular expressions rooted in the human body, tracing their histories from biblical texts to Broadway, battlefield slang to Shakespearean drama. It’s a linguistic anatomy lesson you’ll feel in your bones. Don’t forget to like, follow, or share the episode—it helps a lot! Have a favorite idiom that involves the body? Drop it in a review or hit us up @LexiconnedPodcast. Episode Highlights 🦶 Why “cold feet” has military roots (and financial ones too) 🪥 The biblical mystery of “by the skin of your teeth” 🧼 Why elbow grease has outlasted every cleaning product 🕶️ Admiral Nelson and the birth of “turn a blind eye” 👏 The difference between lending a hand... and giving one Sources : Oxford English Dictionary “The Etymologicon” by Mark Forsyth PhraseFinder.org Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable American Speech (1942 usage of “put your foot in your mouth”) The Southern Literary Messenger (1852 usage of “long in the tooth”) New York Times (1921 usage of “get under your skin”) King James Bible, Book of Job Andrew Marvell (1672 use of “elbow grease”) Sir Walter Scott, The Antiquary (1816) Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

What do silver spoons, cash cows, and red ink have in common? In this Lexiconned episode, host TJ explores the surprising origins and cultural reach of financial expressions we use every day. It’s a lighthearted linguistic audit of how money makes us talk. [Sources] Oxford English Dictionary Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang "Word Origins...And How We Know Them" by Anatoly Liberman Financial Times archive (Black Friday history) PhraseFinder.org Boston Consulting Group White Papers Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

In this episode of Lexiconned , host TJ Martin takes us on a tour of everyday trouble, decoding ten expressions born from secrecy, stress, and slip-ups. From medieval market scams to nautical metaphors, learn how we dress up life’s chaos in vivid, memorable turns of phrase. Explore the expressions: Caught Red Handed, Bite the Bullet, Kick the Bucket, Skeletons in the Closet, Let the Cat out of the Bag, Under the Weather, Hit the Fan, and more. Sources: Oxford English Dictionary EtymOnline.com Grose’s Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1785) WorldWideWords.org Kipling, Rudyard. The Light That Failed (1891) Walter Scott, Ivanhoe (1819) Quarles, Francis. Emblemes (1635) Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

Episode Description Why do we say "by and large" when we mean "generally"? And how did a dozen turn into thirteen? In this Lexiconned episode, TJ explores curious expressions tied to measurement: "Give an Inch (Take a Mile)," "By and Large," "A Baker's Dozen," "In Spades," "A Hair's Breadth," "To the Nines," and "Second to None." It's a journey through nautical navigation, medieval law, card games, and poetic numerology. Sources Heywood, John. A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Proverbes in the Englishe Tongue . 1546. Smith, John. A Sea Grammar . 1627. Nashe, Thomas. Lenten Stuff . 1599. The New Republic , 1929 issue (earliest metaphorical use of “in spades”). Hamilton, William. Epistle to Ramsay . 1719. Burgoyne, John. Personal correspondence, 1789. Various medieval tailoring and engineering manuscripts referencing “a hair’s breadth.” #podcast #wordnerds #languagelovers #idioms #expressions Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

Truth. It built our loyalties. It fueled revolutions. It shaped law, journalism, art—and everything we trust (or don’t). In this special Foundations episode of Lexiconned , we explore the complex roots of one of humanity’s most powerful—and most contested—words. From ancient oaths to Enlightenment science to today’s digital battlegrounds, truth has been worshiped, weaponized, and worn thin. Where did it come from? How has it evolved? And what does it still demand from us today? Sources Oxford English Dictionary – Entries for truth , troth , trēowþ Online Etymology Dictionary – Proto-Germanic and Proto-Indo-European roots ( treuwaz , deru- ) The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – Oaths and early law Magna Carta (1215) – Foundational texts and historical translations Novum Organum by Francis Bacon (1620) – Foundations of modern scientific truth Principia Mathematica by Isaac Newton (1687) – Scientific objectivity 1984 by George Orwell (1949) – Political manipulation of truth King Lear by William Shakespeare – Truth in tragedy Emily Dickinson, “Tell all the truth but tell it slant” (published 1890) Comparative linguistics resources for aletheia (Greek), Wahrheit (German), shinjitsu (Japanese), and vérité (French) Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

What does justice really mean? In this powerful long-form episode, TJ breaks down the word that lives at the heart of courtrooms, protests, and moral debates around the world. From Hammurabi to hip-hop, Supreme Court rulings to superhero stories, we trace justice’s tangled roots through language, law, and culture—and ask whether it can ever truly live up to its name. Links to Supreme Court Cases Referenced: Dred Scott v. Sandford Korematsu v. the United States Buck v. Bell Sources Oxford English Dictionary – "justice," "just" Online Etymology Dictionary The Code of Hammurabi, translation archives Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from Birmingham Jail” U.S. Supreme Court rulings: Dobbs v. Jackson , Students for Fair Admissions United Nations: Universal Declaration of Human Rights Orlando Patterson, Freedom and Slavery and Social Death Legal linguistics and comparative law journals Translations and cultural references from Arabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Zulu, Mandarin Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

For the month of May we are kicking off a series, I’m calling foundations. This is the first episode in that mini-series. Freedom is one of the most powerful—and most misunderstood—words in the English language. In this extended deep-dive, TJ traces the word from its ancient Proto-Indo-European roots to its modern cultural clashes. Along the way, we examine what freedom meant to medieval peasants, Civil War soldiers, civil rights activists, post-9/11 veterans, and protestors across the globe. This isn’t just about politics—it’s about language, identity, and the stories we tell when we say we’re free. This episode is dedicated to all those who have stood up, spoken out, and sacrificed for freedom. Sources Oxford English Dictionary, "freedom," "free" Online Etymology Dictionary Declaration of Independence, U.S. Archives The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream," 1963 FDR's Four Freedoms Speech, 1941 Arabic chant translations from the Arab Spring Scholarly work: Orlando Patterson, Freedom in the Making of Western Culture John Lewis interviews and writings Jon Meacham, The Soul of America Various translations from native speakers & linguistic databases Music Credit Courtesy of Alegend from https://pixabay.com/users/jeremusic70-25199461/ Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

How Horse Racing Shaped the Way We Speak Dark horse . Down to the wire . Photo finish . These aren’t just racing terms—they’re the language of life, competition, and culture. In this special Lexiconned bonus episode, TJ heads to the track—linguistically speaking—to explore 12 iconic phrases that began at the races but ended up everywhere else. From political campaigns to product launches, these metaphors shape how we think about odds, momentum, and last-minute victories. And with the Kentucky Derby as our backdrop, this is one episode that truly goes the distance. Don't forget to check out the podcast Short Pour Sources Disraeli, Benjamin. The Young Duke (1831) – First use of “dark horse” Library of Congress – U.S. Presidential Election Archives Oxford English Dictionary – Entries for “neck and neck,” “long shot,” “front-runner,” “post time,” “photo finish,” etc. New York Clipper (1850s–1870s) – Early racing journalism Chicago Daily Tribune (1890s) – “Down to the wire” in print Harper’s Weekly (1858) – “Homestretch” usage in racing New York Times Archives (1896) – “Also-ran” in sports coverage Louisville Courier-Journal (1925) – Bill Corum coins “Run for the Roses” Racing Post (2020) – “Camera Ready: The History of the Photo Finish” National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame – Historical records Merriam-Webster – First recorded uses of key phrases Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1905) – “Off to the races” early figurative use Congressional Records (1916) – “In the homestretch” political usage Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Archives – “Win, Place, Show” history Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

In this episode, TJ dives into the frustrating and humorously ironic history of "red tape." From King Charles V’s attempts at administrative modernization to modern-day governmental battles against paperwork, discover why bureaucracy never seems to die. Prepare yourself for a journey through layers of officialdom and comedic despair—welcome to the tangled world of red tape! Don't forget to check out the podcast Short Pour #bureucracysucks Sources: "Red Tape: Its Origins, Uses, and Abuses," Thomas Carlyle, historical writings. "The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable," edited by Elizabeth Knowles, Oxford University Press. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 19th edition, edited by Susie Dent, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. “The True History of Bureaucracy,” by John Merriman, Yale University Press. "Origins of English Words and Phrases," by Robert Hendrickson, Facts on File Inc. US National Archives, pieces of history article https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2021/10/21/holding-it-together-from-red-tape-to-grommets/#:~:text=While%20red%20tape%20is%20used,154%20miles%20of%20red%20tape . Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

Ever wondered why we divide our time into a seven-day cycle? Why is Sunday the “sun” day, and Wednesday such a spelling nightmare? In this episode of Lexiconned , TJ takes you through the history, mythology, and linguistic evolution of our week’s daily roll call—from celestial bodies to Norse gods, and a bit of Roman imperial influence. Learn how these seven words structure our lives and why we’re still stuck with them after thousands of years. Sources: Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary Oxford English Dictionary Beard, Mary. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome Crystal, David. The Stories of English Lindow, John. Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

From Augusta’s fairways to your next metaphorical mulligan, the language of golf has reached far beyond the course. In this witty and word-rich episode of Lexiconned, we explore the origins, myths, and double meanings behind 18 iconic golf terms—from par and birdie to duff, shank, and mulligan. Whether you're a scratch golfer or a vocabulary duffer, this episode tees up the surprising ways golf talk has made its way into everyday speech—and culture at large. Warning: May cause spontaneous whispering and sudden urges to wear pastel. #podcast #language #golf #Masters Sources Oxford English Dictionary – Entries for “par,” “bogey,” “mulligan,” “fore,” and more Online Etymology Dictionary – Golf term origins, including “hook,” “slice,” “duff,” and “drive” The USGA and R&A – Official rules and definitions of golf terms “The Historical Dictionary of Golfing Terms” by Peter Davies Atlantic City Country Club Archives – Birdie origin story The New York Times & Maclean’s Magazine – First printed use of “eagle” Samuel Taylor Coleridge – The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (re: albatross) BBC Sports History Archives – Bogeyman and Colonel Bogey references Golf Digest & Golf.com – Cultural references and Masters history The Simpsons , Season 1–34 – Honorary source for “Duff” Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

From mythological warrior women to the largest rainforest on Earth to the global e-commerce empire that changed how we shop, the word Amazon has carried power and mystery across millennia. In this episode of Lexiconned , we explore the Greek origins of the word, the colonial rebranding of a mighty river, and how a small online bookstore became an economic titan. Was the Amazon River really named after fierce female warriors? Did ancient Amazons actually exist? And what does Jeff Bezos have to do with all of this? Tune in for an etymological deep dive into one of the world’s most influential words. Sources: Herodotus, Histories Francisco de Orellana’s expedition accounts Modern linguistic research on Scythian and Persian influences Historical analyses of Indigenous Amazonian cultures Business histories detailing the founding of Amazon.com Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

What makes a constitution? In this episode of Lexiconned, we unravel the history, evolution, and deeper meanings of the word ‘Constitution.’ From its Latin origins in ancient Rome to its transformation into the guiding principles of nations, we explore how this word has adapted over centuries—much like the U.S. Constitution itself. Whether you’re a history buff, a language lover, or just someone who enjoys a good etymology deep dive, this episode has something for you. Stay curious, stay kind, and try to stay out of trouble—this is Lexiconned Sources: Oxford English Dictionary – ‘Constitution’ Etymology Merriam-Webster – Historical Uses and Meanings of ‘Constitution’ The Federalist Papers – Origins of the U.S. Constitution Britannica – Constitutional Systems Around the World Ancient Roman Legal Codes – Use of Constitutio in Imperial Decrees National Archives – History and Amendments of the U.S. Constitution Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice – Literary Use of ‘Constitution’ Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook – ‘Constitution’ as a Stamina Attribute Library of Congress – Evolution and Interpretations of the Constitution Over Time Harvard Law Review – The U.S. Constitution as a Living Document Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

In this episode we dive into the history of measles , a word that originated from Latin misellus , meaning "little miserable". Through a first-hand narrative set in 1912, we witness the devastating impact of measles in a world before vaccines. We explore its linguistic origins, its historical outbreaks, its devastating role in global pandemics, and its surprising influence on everyday language. We also examine the groundbreaking development of the measles vaccine and the modern resurgence of the disease due to vaccine hesitancy. Tune in to uncover the true history behind measles —a word with more baggage than just a rash and fever. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Measles History, Vaccination, and Current Trends https://www.cdc.gov/measles/ World Health Organization (WHO) – Global Measles Surveillance & Vaccine Impact https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles History of Vaccines – The College of Physicians of Philadelphia https://www.historyofvaccines.org/ Francis Home’s 1757 Study on Measles as an Infectious Disease – Medical and Historical Archives The Lancet: Measles and Its Historical Impact on Global Populations https://www.thelancet.com/ Rhazes (Abu Bakr al-Razi) – Early Medical Writings on Measles and Smallpox Kitab al-Judari wa al-Hasbah (The Book of Smallpox and Measles) John Enders & Peebles’ Isolation of the Measles Virus (1954) – Journal of Experimental Medicine Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…

Hope is a powerful, universal concept—so much so that it has been woven into our language for centuries. But where does the word actually come from? Has it always meant what we think it does? From Old English roots to its evolution into modern optimism, we’ll unravel the history of ‘hope,’ its surprising etymology, and the ways it has been wielded both as inspiration and as manipulation. What makes you hopeful? This episode is a special listener request. Sources: Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Merriam-Webster Dictionary Etymonline.com (Douglas Harper’s Online Etymology Dictionary) The American Presidency Project (Clinton’s speeches) Various linguistic studies on cross-cultural interpretations of ‘hope’ Bill Clinton's speech to the DNC (1992) Send us a text Share your suggestion for words or phrases, thoughts on the episodes, or just engage with us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lexiconnedpodcast/…