Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast

Welcome to our whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. Each week, we delve into the origins of phrases to find out how they came into the English language. We tell the story of how the phrase got from its beginnings to where it is today. Shauna and Dan are two big nerds, so expect some geek culture references, random trivia facts, and loads of laughs!

307 Tickle Your Fancy 02/11/2026

307 Tickle Your Fancy This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, "Tickle Your Fancy". Bonus: Robin Hood, Puritans, Lucille Ball on Broadway, and the answer to the age-old question... has this phrase always been a double entendre? It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2026 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39971320

306 Going AWOL 02/04/2026

306 Going AWOL Quick Quips: This week Shauna and Dan go AWOL. Bonus: Initialisms vs Acronyms, AWOL vs Desertion, and Co-workers vs the Team Lead It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2026 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39937105

305 Rest on Your Laurels 01/28/2026

305 Rest on Your Laurels This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "rest on your laurels". Or since the late 1700s, DO NOT rest on your laurels. Bonus: Greek Gods, Roman Funerals, and Swedish Doctors It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2026 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39887700

304 Living the Dream 01/21/2026

304 Living the Dream This week Shauna and Dan introduce the Quick Quips format which will be used when a phrase doesn't fit into the regular format. This week, Living the Dream! Bonus: Irony in the 1950s, Irony in the 1990s, and Irony in the 2020s. It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2026 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39793645

303 Pull Out All the Stops 01/14/2026

303 Pull Out All the Stops This week Shauna and Dan make every possible effort to explain Pull Out All the Stops. Bonus: Australian Football, Coughing instead of clapping, and playing the pipe organ while Rome burns It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2026 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39685975

Season 9 Trailer 01/07/2026

Season 9 Trailer Welcome to Season 9. It seems improbable that you have been joining us for 8 years and over 300 episodes, but here you are! Thanks for being a part of the Bunny Trails community. If you want to take your listening to the next level, join us over at Patreon, You'll get instant free perks like our weekly polls and discussions on what everyone read/watched/played the past week. There are paid perks, too, if you feel so inclined. We'll talk to you next week for Season 9 of Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast! It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2026 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39622015

RETRO 187 At a Crossroads 12/31/2025

RETRO 187 At a Crossroads This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, "At a Crossroads", which has a strong association with blues legend Robert Johnson. Bonus: Search engine optimization in the 1700s and cool pet names. Also, how do you pronounce gnocchi? It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39110235

RETRO 258 Christmas Spirit 12/24/2025

RETRO 258 Christmas Spirit It's that time of year! Shauna and Dan deep dive into the holiday phrase, Christmas Spirit. The feeling, not the ghosts. Bonus: Curmudgeonly old men, spirits pitching the Christmas spirit, and the great bagel vs donut debate. It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39109055

RETRO 216 Snowball Effect 12/17/2025

RETRO 216 Snowball Effect This week Shauna and Dan explore the history of the snowball effect. Bonus: Snowpersons, Science Fiction Matriarchs, and Snake Oil Sales Folk. Double Bonus: Air travel tips! It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39066535

RETRO 259 Words Christmas Gave Us with Grace Tierney 12/10/2025

RETRO 259 Words Christmas Gave Us with Grace Tierney This week Shauna and Dan are joined by 'Words Christmas Gave Us' author Grace Tierney to talk about Christmas, Boxing Day (St. Stephens Day if you are in Ireland - Do NOT make that mistake), and fun holiday traditions. Happy holidays from all of us at Bunny Trails! It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39108150

RETRO 136 Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth 12/03/2025

RETRO 136 Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth Shauna and Dan talk about the ancient phrase, never look a gift horse in the mouth. Bonus: What would $200,000 in 1912 be worth today, Can you really tell the age of a horse by looking at its teeth, and the best ice cream flavor It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39064280

RETRO 230 Pie in the Sky 11/26/2025

RETRO 230 Pie in the Sky This week Shauna and Dan explore the surprising origins of pie in the sky. Bonus: Workers rights, Great British actors, and the biggest meal of the day It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39049770

302 Going Whole Hog 11/19/2025

302 Going Whole Hog This week Shauna and Dan go whole hog to bust some myths and find some cookout tips. Bonus: Bucking porkchops, extreme ironing, and how to tell a fiddle from a violin It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/39044220

301 Walking on Eggshells 11/12/2025

301 Walking on Eggshells This week Shauna and Dan tread upon eggs as they explore the modern version of this phrase, walking on eggshells. Bonus: Magical friendship eggs, Dan's sunscreen for the eyes, And Shauna's fear of trial by jury. Also, we are bringing back "sinistrously". It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38874780

300 Catch More Flies With Honey Than Vinegar 11/05/2025

300 Catch More Flies With Honey Than Vinegar This week Shauna and Dan find out if you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. Bonus: Learning new languages, Riding narwhals, and Canada's No. 1 prospector It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38800735

299 Catnap 10/29/2025

299 Catnap This week Shauna and Dan take a catnap. Bonus: Sleep Momentum, Star Trek IV: Spock and Whales, and THE MODS ARE ASLEEP - EVERYONE POST OWLS! Bonus Bonus: Antnaps It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38745825

298 Tongue in Cheek 10/22/2025

298 Tongue in Cheek This week Shauna and Dan explore having your tongue in your cheek, or the simplified version, tongue in cheek. Bonus: General irreverence, New Zealand's parliamentary insults, and Tongue-based assistive devices On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our website, bunnytrailspod.com Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38567765

297 Beck and Call 10/15/2025

297 Beck and Call This week Shauna and Dan learn what it means to be at one's beck and call. Bonus: Reincarnation, Dan's anxiety, and restaurants recommended by tire companies It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38496930

296 Off the Rails 10/08/2025

296 Off the Rails This week Shauna and Dan go "off the rails" looking into this interesting phrase. Bonus: The tender lyrics of Ozzy Osbourne, wild sci-fy synopses, and moonwalking in clown shoes It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our website, bunnytrailspod.com Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38411540

295 Mountain Out of a Molehill 10/01/2025

295 Mountain Out of a Molehill This week Shauna and Dan try not to make a mountain out of a molehill: Bonus: Celestial Scorpions, Time Management Skills, and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38244480

294 Cooking the Books 09/24/2025

294 Cooking the Books This week Shauna and Dan learn how to cook the books. Bonus: Accounting Wizardry, Spoof versus Satire, and an Epic Parisian Ice Cream Brawl It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38224385

293 Salt in the Wound 09/17/2025

293 Salt in the Wound This week Shauna and Dan rub salt in the wound to see how it feels. Well, not literally, because they both know it hurts. Bonus: Stubborn spouses, iocaine poisoning, and the tingly tarantula of Trinidad It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38108415

292 Nest Egg 09/10/2025

292 Nest Egg This week Shauna and Dan explore the varieties of Nest Eggs. Bonus: Common-sense furniture, Satan sitting on a sin's spawn, and Shauna's hot ninja take It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/38076195

291 Missing Link 09/03/2025

291 Missing Link This week Shauna and Dan try to discover the Missing Link. Bonus: The Piltdown Man, The TV Show Bones, and Missed Sneezes. Also, please direct all Ultraman complaints to Shauna. It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our website, bunnytrailspod.com Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/37895065

290 All Your Eggs in One Basket 08/27/2025

290 All Your Eggs in One Basket This week Shauna and Dan put all their eggs into one basket and ask if that is a good plan or not. Bonus: Kobe Bryant, GI Joe, and Coin-Operated Medieval-Western Songs Seriously, Tele Novella is such a great band. It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our website, bunnytrailspod.com Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/37879735

289 Tough Cookie 08/20/2025

289 Tough Cookie This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase Tough Cookie. Bonus: The Yellow Pages, Resilient Kids, and Anthropomorphic Desserts It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! patreon.com/bunnytrailspod Shownotes are always available on our website, bunnytrailspod.com Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/37865980

288 The Proof is in the Pudding 08/13/2025

288 The Proof is in the Pudding This week Shauna and Dan set out to see if the proof really is in the pudding. Bonus: Codfish Sherlock, Architectural Swansongs, and Puddings of the World It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/37778455

287 Night Owl 07/30/2025

287 Night Owl This week Shauna admits to being a Night Owl as your hosts delve into the history of the phrase. Bonus: Cyclical fashions, Ginormoustest moons, and Dan knows more about owls than even he realized It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/37239760

286 Under the Table 07/23/2025

286 Under the Table This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase under the table. The secret or clandestine one, not the drinking to excess one. Bonus: Book bans, French Culinary School, and friendly, neighborhood food merchants fighting demonic forces in Poland It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/37222260

285 Jump on the Bandwagon 07/16/2025

285 Jump on the Bandwagon This week Shauna and Dan 'Jump on the Bandwagon' for books, songs, and sportsball. Bonus: Beanie Babies, Pogs, Humbuggeries, and James Cash Penny It's free to join our Patreon, On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, like early access and name recognition on the show. So join us on Patreon! Shownotes are always available on our website, Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/37067010

Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast

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