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!

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

284 Nip it in the Bud 07/09/2025

284 Nip it in the Bud This week Shauna and Dan explore "Nip it in the Bud." Bonus: Barney Fife, Lancelot, and the War of 1812 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/37028960

283 Swansong 07/02/2025

283 Swansong This week Shauna and Dan sing our swansong. Once again, we should have saved this type of phrase for the end of our show, but we have many more episodes still to come. Bonus: Merry madrigals, da Vinci's note books, and parodic poems about parting 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/36980475

282 Chew the Fat 06/25/2025

282 Chew the Fat This week Shauna and Dan chew the fat and debunk some origin stories. Bonus: Soul-disco, teething children, and bored Cowboys 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/36937560

281 Burn Your Bridges 06/18/2025

281 Burn Your Bridges This week Shauna and Dan burn all the bridges behind them. And sometimes boats. Or maybe they'll light a river on fire. Bonus: Failure is always an option 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/36924040

280 Upset the Apple Cart 06/11/2025

280 Upset the Apple Cart This week Shauna and Dan try not to upset the apple cart. Bonus: The USA's earliest pen pals, wizardly cats, and Gudrun Lauret's disruptive creators (or possibly creative disruptors) 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/36849980

279 Flash in the Pan 06/04/2025

279 Flash in the Pan This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, flash in the pan. Bonus: Hubble taking pictures of long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, Epic burns of the 1600s, and Texas: the America of America. 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/36734250

278 Pay the Piper 05/28/2025

278 Pay the Piper This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Pay the Piper. Bonus: Multicolored musicians, English History, and Horror Stories 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/36648325

277 Throw Down the Gauntlet 05/21/2025

277 Throw Down the Gauntlet This week Shauna and Dan Throw Down the Gauntlet to see what origin story comes out on top. Bonus: Secret Societies, Wizardless Duels, and 80s movies Dan hasn't seen 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/36552005

276 Run into the Ground 05/14/2025

276 Run into the Ground This week Shauna and Dan are feeling run into the ground. Join as they explore the possible origins of this phrase from farming to hunting and nautical to nonsense. Bonus: 17 less ads than Divorce Court in 1961 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/36543370

275 Pay the Ferryman 05/07/2025

275 Pay the Ferryman This week Shauna and Dan have to pay the ferryman. Well, not exactly. Bonus: Charon, Commodores, and Chris de Burgh 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/36456400

274 Mums the Word 04/30/2025

274 Mums the Word This week Shauna and Dan speak out against the silence with the phrase, Mums the Word. Bonus: Workers Rights, Charley's Men, and Stokyn Lyppis 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/36357950

RETRO 114 In the Same Boat 04/23/2025

RETRO 114 In the Same Boat RETRO: This week Shauna and Dan ponder whether or not we are all in the same boat, or if we are just in the same body of water with some people on yachts while others are in little rowboats. Bonus: Egg frying, white-washed war bond ads, and Dan's great-great-grandmothers newspaper Originally aired June 23, 2021 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/36248970

RETRO 118 Bob's Your Uncle 04/16/2025

RETRO 118 Bob's Your Uncle This week Shauna and Dan get near the bottom of this elusive phrase. Bob's Your Uncle has several origin stories, but there's always been a missing link between the most popular story and the first time it could be verified in print. Well, until now. Check out this breaking news in the world of 130-year-old phrases! Originally aired July 28, 2021. 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/36130275

273 Shoot for the Moon 04/09/2025

273 Shoot for the Moon This week Shauna and Dan shoot for the moon! Bonus: A man in a button factory, Debunking internet myths, and Steve Irwin saves the day 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 Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35962650

272 Diamond in the Rough 04/02/2025

272 Diamond in the Rough This week Shauna and Dan look into diamond in the rough and the two contemporary phases that merged to give us this phrase. Bonus: Dan learns something new, Your hosts accidentally take on the diamond cartel, and Shauna talks about a prison newspaper Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35949170

271 Public Enemy Number One 03/26/2025

271 Public Enemy Number One This week is a wild ride as Shauna and Dan explore the phrase Public Enemy No 1. Bonus: Poetic lyrical sons, Al Capone, and that time President Lincoln was taken hostage by... John Dillinger? Told you it would be a wild ride. Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35711940

270 Bite My Head Off 03/19/2025

270 Bite My Head Off This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Bite My Head Off. Which feels better than the earlier version of this phrase. Bonus: Grump Valentines, Chocolate Bunnies, and Praying Mantises all the way down Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35638570

269 Fork in the Road 03/12/2025

269 Fork in the Road This week Shauna and Dan discuss the fork in the road. Not ours, mind you. But someone's fork. Probably. Bonus: Religious parables, Yogi Berra, and Misremembering poems Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35621575

RETRO 102 Beware the Ides of March 03/05/2025

RETRO 102 Beware the Ides of March RETRO Episode: What are Ides? Why should we Beware the Ides of March? Should we beware the Ides of other months? Do other months even have Ides? Bonus: Calends, Nones, and Caesars Copyright 2025 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35519800

268 Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop 02/26/2025

268 Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop This week Shauna and Dan wait for the other shoe to drop. Dan gets really excited to hear the rather basic origins of this phrase. Bonus: Boarding houses, Bob Cross, and park benches Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35334080

267 Rack My Brain 02/19/2025

267 Rack My Brain This week Shauna and Dan rack their brains to think of good phrases to explore. Okay, that was a bad joke. But rack my brain is a fun episode. Trust us. Bonus: Beatles, Rebuses, and rack vs wrack Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35323130

266 Throw in the Towel 02/12/2025

266 Throw in the Towel This week Shauna and Dan throw in the towel. Well, not really. Though Shauna did note we should have saved this phrase for our last episode. Alas. Bonus: Entrepreneurs, rich hillbillies, and so many boxing movies Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/35231245

265 Stick to Your Ribs 02/05/2025

265 Stick to Your Ribs This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Stick to Your Ribs. Bonus: Visits from series regulars John Ray, Edmund Burke, and Louise Pound, plus our favorite stick to your ribs books. Also, mac-daddi-roni! Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved /episode/index/show/bunnytrailspod/id/34948840

Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast

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