Prompt Cast
Origins of Common Phrases: From Temperance to Iroquois
TLDR Explore the fascinating origins of common phrases such as "on the wagon," "bury the hatchet," and "in a pickle" and learn about their historical and cultural significance. Discover how these phrases have evolved over time and continue to be used in everyday language.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The origin of the phrase "on the wagon" is not from being taken to jail or the gallows and having one last drink, but rather it comes from the Temperance Movement in the early 20th century when people would ride on wagons promoting sobriety.
05:01
The origin of the phrase "on the wagon" comes from the temperance movement in America, where people would take a pledge to abstain from drinking and ride on a water cart through town to promote sobriety.
09:45
The phrase "the exception proves the rule" originally meant that the presence of an exception confirms the existence of a rule, and it comes from medieval law.
14:45
The phrase "P.U." used to express disgust or a bad smell doesn't stand for anything, but it has a longstanding association with something offensive or disgusting and can be traced back to Latin and even an ancient Proto-Indo-European word.
20:06
The phrase "bury the hatchet" originated from the Iroquois language family and was a literal practice of burying weapons during peace treaty meetings, symbolizing the end of conflict.
25:12
The phrase "in a pickle" originated from Shakespeare's play "The Tempest" and was borrowed from the Dutch phrase "in de Peckle-Zitten," which referred to being preserved in pickle brine, but eventually evolved to mean being in a tight spot or a difficult situation.
30:23
The phrase "slippery slope" refers to a logical fallacy where taking one or two steps in a certain direction can lead to a dangerous situation or catastrophe, often used in political arguments to scare someone into agreement by exaggerating the potential consequences.
35:45
The phrase "quesara, quesara" is both French and Italian gibberish, and it means "whatever will be, will be," reminding people to take a relaxed attitude toward life and not try to predict the future.
40:51
The phrase "quesara-sara" is grammatically incorrect, but there is a cool story behind its origin.
45:46
Aristotle pointed out the use of circular logic in arguments, which he called petitio principi, and it was later mistranslated as "begs the question" in English.
50:38
The episode concludes with a discussion about Jimmy Carter and a listener mail about the origin of the phrase "balls out" referring to the centrifugal governor on machines.
Categories:
Society & Culture
