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    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Origins

    Whole 9 Yards is a weekly podcast that will simultaneously educate, astonish, and amuse. Listen while we share equivocal research about the origin of words, phrases, and idioms we use every day. From the team at Big Science Pods, we bring you the whole 9 yards, the entire kit and caboodle, the whole shebang of this quick, entertaining look at our language and the history therein. Learn why we call New York "The Big Apple," what "red-handed" REALLY means and why sometimes people are "happy as a clam." So, let's cut to the chase, if you jump on the bandwagon now, the first 100 subscribers will be entered to win a Big Science Snuggie. Have a question about an idiom? Wanna drop us a line because you think we’re funny... or, not? Think we’re mistaken about any information we’ve shared? Hit us up at heyyou@whole9yards.org. We’re waiting with bated breath!
    en-us211 Episodes

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    Episodes (211)

    W9Y Gets Some Nicknames

    W9Y Gets Some Nicknames

    Episode 210: Jay & Ray call each other by a few old nicknames. - Encore

    • doofus
    • buster
    • chap
    • lad

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Coming Out The Wazoo

    W9Y Coming Out The Wazoo

    Episode 209: Jay & Ray have idioms flying out their wazoo.

    • teetotaller
    • wazoo

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Plays Hooky

    W9Y Plays Hooky

    Episode 208: Jay & Ray party down with some old idioms. - Encore

    • paint the town red
    • hobnob
    • play hooky
    • wallflower

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Twists Your Arm

    W9Y Twists Your Arm

    Episode 207: Jay & Ray eye up some old body idioms. - Encore

    • foot in mouth
    • mug
    • on the tip of your tongue
    • twist your arm

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.


    W9Y Eats Crow

    W9Y Eats Crow

    Episode 206: Jay & Ray meet some friendly animal idioms. again. - Encore

    • a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
    • don't count your chickens
    • eat crow
    • can of worms

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Gets Moving

    W9Y Gets Moving

    Episode 205: Jay & Ray move to understand a few old phrases. - Encore

    • badger
    • grasping for straws
    • get the ball rolling
    • palm off

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Goes to a Barn Burner

    W9Y Goes to a Barn Burner

    Episode 204: Jay & Ray learn how to say some old idioms. - Encore

    • gingerly
    • barn burner
    • hold a candle
    • SNAFU

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Stinks

    W9Y Stinks

    Episode 203: Jay & Ray enjoy the scent of some fresh idioms.

    • p.u.
    • tit for tat

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Gets Hot

    W9Y Gets Hot

    Episode 202: Jay & Ray kick off Season 5!

    • piping hot
    • bellwether

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Unpacking Japan
    The podcast for people interested in the behind the scenes of life in Japan.

    W9Y Is A Bummer

    W9Y Is A Bummer

    Episode 201: Jay & Ray groove with a few 60s idioms, again. - Encore

    • bummer
    • flake
    • split
    • bogart

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Goes Golfing

    W9Y Goes Golfing

    Episode 200: Jay & Ray ay & Ray take a whack at a few golf idioms - again. Encore.

    • birdie
    • bogey
    • eagle
    • mulligan

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    W9Y Fights The Law

    W9Y Fights The Law

    Episode 199: Jay & Ray are on the wrong side of the law - again. Encore.

    • on the lamb
    • scott-free
    • redhanded
    • cut to the chase

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Tripping.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Tripping.

    Episode 198: Jay & Ray trip the light fantastic.

    • skin in the game
    • trip the light fantastic

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Ice Breakers.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Ice Breakers.

    Episode 197: Jay & Ray take a few new idioms to court.

    • break the ice
    • kangaroo court

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Food, pt. 11

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Food, pt. 11

    Episode 196: Jay & Ray slice up some new food idioms.

    • cheesy
    • in a nutshell

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Food, pt. 10

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Food, pt. 10

    Episode 195: Jay & Ray hash out some new food idioms.

    • sour grapes
    • just desserts

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Scottish Thunder.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Scottish Thunder.

    Episode 194: Jay & Ray take a thunderous approach to new etymologies.

    • steal your thunder
    • why is Macbeth referred to as 'The Scottish Play?'

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Fighting words!

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Fighting words!

    Episode 193: Jay & Ray scuffle with a few old fighting words. - Encore

    • beef
    • screwed the pooch
    • bone of contention
    • donnybrook

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Material

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & Material

    Episode 192: Jay & Ray stitch up a few new idioms.

    • know the ropes
    • hell bent for leather

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & more Clothing.

    Whole 9 Yards: Idioms, Etymology, & more Clothing.

    Episode 191: Jay & Ray iron out a few more clothing idioms. - Encore

    • by the seat of your pants
    • skivvies
    • keep your shirt on
    • thinking cap

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    Big Science Music is an award-winning original music and sound boutique. Providing scoring, sound design, radio, podcast, and all audio-post production services for the advertising, film, and video industries. Grab a taste of the groove salad at bigsciencemusic.com

    some of the W9Y sources include phrase finder uk, word wizard forums, etymology online, the OED, American Dictionary of Idioms, Wiki, newspapers.com, stackexchange, worldwidewords.