Podcast Summary: "Interesting Origins of Everyday Phrases"
Stuff You Should Know
Released on December 15, 2022
Hosts: Josh Clark, Chuck Bryant, Daniel Murgatroyd

Introduction and Philanthropy Appeal

[00:35 - 02:13]
Josh and Daniel begin the episode by highlighting the importance of supporting Cooperative for Education, an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in Guatemala through education. They encourage listeners to contribute towards their goal of raising $1 million, emphasizing that every donation, large or small, is valuable. Additionally, Daniel acknowledges the artistic talents of Daniel Murgatroyd, who created a stunning oil painting of Momo from an Instagram post, urging listeners to check him out on Instagram.

Acknowledgements

[03:07 - 03:54]
The hosts extend their gratitude to resources that aided their research on phrase origins:

• World Wide Words by Michael Quillen for digging into word origins and etymology.
• Grammarist for additional insights.

Phrase Origins Explored

1. "On the Wagon"

[03:40 - 08:22]
The phrase "on the wagon," meaning to abstain from alcohol, is thoroughly examined.

• Competing Theories:

  • UK Theory: Individuals being taken to jail would stop at a pub for one last drink before getting on the wagon, symbolizing their commitment to sobriety.
    • Daniel: "[...] if you were being taken to jail or [...] to the gallows, [...] let you have one last drink. Then [...] get back on the wagon never to drink again." [04:43]
    • Josh: "That's right, because you're about to go get your head chopped off." [04:47]

• True Origin (American Temperance Movement):

  • The phrase originates from the temperance movement's water wagons—carts filled with non-potable water used to keep dusty streets clean.
    • Daniel: "[...] water wagon became just the wagon. [...] people saying I would rather drink this nasty water than drink a glass of whiskey again." [07:59]
    • Josh: "That's a good one." [08:00]

• Historical Usage:

  • By 1904, the term was in widespread use, as evidenced by an article in the Davenport Daily Leader.
    • Josh: "It's what they call in the film business. A wet down." [07:28]
    • Daniel: "[...] by 1904." [08:20]

2. "Exception That Proves the Rule"

[08:21 - 15:17]
Josh and Daniel delve into the often-misunderstood phrase "the exception that proves the rule."

• Common Misinterpretation:

  • People believe it means that an exception validates the general rule.
    • Josh: "I think it's a case of changing language." [09:30]
    • Daniel: "[...] it's actually kind of nonsensical if you dig into it." [10:03]

• Original Meaning:

  • Rooted in medieval law, it implies that exceptions test the validity of a rule.
    • Daniel: "[...] the exception proves the rule. That really emphasizes the proves part." [10:43]
    • Josh: "I didn't like this one. This made my brain hurt." [14:15]

• Examples Discussed:

  • Free Parking on Sundays: Suggests a rule exists for other days.
  • No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service: Implies a rule allowing shirtless or shoeless patrons elsewhere.
    • Daniel: "No shirt, no shoes, no service suggests that elsewhere you can go without a shirt or shoes." [14:15]
    • Josh: "I don't know if I buy that." [13:08]

• Philosophical Insight:

  • The phrase's original logic doesn't align with modern usage, leading to confusion.
    • Daniel: "It was Aristotle who first pointed out that this is a little bit of circular logic." [47:54]

3. "Bury the Hatchet"

[21:05 - 27:34]
The origin of "bury the hatchet," meaning to make peace, is explored.

• Literal Meaning:

  • Stemming from Iroquois practices, treaties involved literally burying weapons to symbolize peace.
    • Daniel: "They formed a treaty [...] bury their weapons [...] this was a charmed treaty." [25:29 - 27:34]

• Historical Context:

  • Traces back to a 1142 treaty among the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, making it one of the oldest democracies.
    • Josh: "According to Iroquois legend, in the treaty meeting [...] bury their weapons." [23:01 - 25:29]
    • Daniel: "The Seneca had a word, Gajiwa. So you would probably more accurately say bury the Gajiwa." [27:24 - 27:34]

• Cultural Spread:

  • The practice influenced European settlers, who adopted the metaphorical use of the phrase in North America.
    • Josh: "Down here in the Southeast with the Chickasaw, they were burying hatchets in Alabama and Mississippi." [26:30]

4. "In a Pickle"

[27:44 - 31:47]
The phrase "in a pickle," meaning to be in a difficult situation, is dissected.

• Shakespearean Origins:

  • Introduced in The Tempest by Trinculo, referring metaphorically to being drunk (pickled).
    • Daniel: "Trinculo: 'I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last.'" [28:20]
    • Josh: "Shakespeare actually borrowed this phrase from the Dutch." [28:43]

• Evolution of Meaning:

  • Samuel Pepys popularized its current meaning in his diary, shifting from being drunk to being in trouble.
    • Daniel: "Samuel Pepys wrote his house is in a pickle, meaning it's in a bad shape." [30:34]
    • Josh: "This shows the phrase evolving over time." [30:34]

5. "Que Sera Sera"

[40:35 - 43:45]
The phrase "Que sera sera," often perceived as French, is examined for its true linguistic roots and usage.

• Misconceptions:

  • Commonly thought to be French or Italian, but it's largely gibberish in both languages.
    • Daniel: "It's both. It's also neither. And it's gibberish, it turns out, in both languages." [38:43]

• Cultural Significance:

  • Popularized by Doris Day's rendition in the Hitchcock film The Man Who Knew Too Much.
    • Josh: "It was sung by Doris Day and won Best Original Song in 1956 at the Oscars." [39:36 - 41:59]

• Historical Origin:

  • Originated as a family motto with the first Earl of Bedford in England in the 16th century, not properly translated from Italian.
    • Daniel: "The Earl of Bedford's motto is Que sera sera, but it's not grammatically correct in Italian." [42:25 - 43:45]
    • Josh: "Livingston and Evans changed it to a more Spanish-sounding spelling." [42:25]

• Modern Usage:

  • Despite grammatical inaccuracies, it remains a popular expression encouraging a relaxed attitude towards the future.
    • Josh: "Que sera sera is a reminder to take life as it comes." [38:43]

6. "Slippery Slope"

[33:51 - 37:37]
The discussion turns to "slippery slope," a phrase often used in logical arguments.

• Origin as a Logical Fallacy:

  • Recognized as a logical fallacy where one assumes that a small step will lead to a chain of events resulting in a significant (usually negative) outcome.
    • Daniel: "It's actually a Logical fallacy. It has its own name, the slippery slope argument." [34:15]

• Common Misuse:

  • Often exaggerated in political debates to predict extreme consequences from minor actions.
    • Josh: "It's always taken to this really far extreme." [35:25]

• Philosophical Insight:

  • Highlights the flaw in predicting inevitable negative outcomes without substantial evidence.
    • Daniel: "There's no reason to reject doing one thing just because it might open the door for some undesirable extremes." [36:35]
    • Josh: "It's always infuriating in political arguments." [35:25]

Listener Mail and Anecdotes

1. "Balls Out"

[52:38 - 54:16]
Listener Ben suggests that the phrase "balls out," often assumed to reference testicles, actually originates from the term used in machinery.

• Origin Explained:

  • Refers to the centrifugal governor in machinery where two weighted balls stick out when operating at high speed.
    • Ben: "Balls out refers to machines using a centrifugal governor [...] two balls spinning in a circle." [53:20]
    • Daniel: "Just Google Centrifugal governor." [53:35]

• Applications:

  • Suggests it’s an ideal custom license plate for drivers with a heavy foot, symbolizing the machine aspect rather than vulgarity.
    • Ben: "Balls out is a fantastic custom license plate." [53:35]

2. Beef Stock Tip

[46:47 - 47:37]
Listener Ryan, a chef, provides a valuable tip on making homemade beef stock more flavorful by reducing it by half.

• Advice Given:

  • After making beef stock, reducing it concentrates the flavors, preventing it from being watery and tasteless.
    • Ryan: "You want to reduce it by half." [47:15]

• Host’s Reaction:

  • Josh acknowledges the importance of Ryan’s advice, appreciating the enhancement to his cooking.
    • Josh: "That's exactly right. My hat's off to him for the rest of my life." [46:59 - 47:15]

Language Insights and Corrections

1. "Begs the Question" vs. "Raises the Question"

[43:45 - 50:58]
The hosts discuss the common misuse of "begs the question," clarifying its original meaning and the confusion surrounding it.

• Original Meaning:

  • Derived from Aristotle's "petitio principii," meaning a circular argument where the premise assumes the conclusion.
    • Daniel: "Petitio principi means begging the question, assuming the initial point." [47:54 - 50:58]

• Modern Misuse:

  • Often incorrectly used to mean "raises the question," which although widely accepted, diverges from its original intent.
    • Josh: "Don't say begs the question incorrectly." [43:12]
    • Daniel: "An example is everyone looking over the menu begs the question, what's everyone going to order?" [45:17]

• Advice for Correct Usage:

  • Instead of correcting someone bluntly, share the phrase's origin story to educate tactfully.
    • Josh: "Tell a cool story about an origin as a gentler way to correct." [44:12]

Additional Highlights

• Josh's Anecdote:

  • Shares a story about translating President Jimmy Carter’s speech in Japan, where the translation humorously missed the mark, leading to laughs.
    • Josh: "President Carter told a funny story [...] everyone must laugh." [50:44 - 51:39]

• Commercial Breaks:

  • Various advertisements for brands like T Mobile, Squarespace, LinkedIn Jobs, Anabe Sofas, and sleep apnea awareness are interspersed throughout the episode but were excluded from the summary as per instructions.

Conclusion

The episode provides an engaging exploration of the origins of commonly used phrases, dissecting their historical roots, evolution, and modern interpretations. Through witty discussions and insightful anecdotes, Josh, Chuck, and Daniel offer listeners a deeper understanding of the language they use every day, while also addressing common misconceptions and encouraging thoughtful communication.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Daniel Murgatroyd: “[...] this was a small, charmed treaty and a charmed joining of nations.” [25:29]
• Josh Clark: “I think it's very easily understood. [...] only one guy.” [13:20 - 13:24]
• Daniel Murgatroyd: “There's a guy named James Graff who wrote an article about it [...]” [36:35]
• Josh Clark: “Que sera sera is a reminder to take life as it comes.” [38:43]

Useful Resources Mentioned:

• Cooperative for Education: cooperative4education.org/sysk
• World Wide Words: worldwidewords.org
• Grammarist: grammarist.com

For more insights and detailed explorations of everyday knowledge, visit the Stuff You Should Know podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast platform.