Listen and read

Step into an infinite world of stories

  • Listen and read as much as you want
  • Over 400 000+ titles
  • Bestsellers in 10+ Indian languages
  • Exclusive titles + Storytel Originals
  • Easy to cancel anytime
Subscribe now
Details page - Device banner - 894x1036
Cover for Why Do We Say That? 101 Idioms, Phrases, Sayings & Facts! A Brief History On Where They Come From!

Why Do We Say That? 101 Idioms, Phrases, Sayings & Facts! A Brief History On Where They Come From!

2 Ratings

5

Duration
1H 32min
Language
English
Format
Category

Non-Fiction

Why do we say "no dice" when refusing someone's request? What do clouds and their ‟silver linings" have to do with our hopes and troubles? Why are some people born with a “silver spoon” in their mouth? What does it truly mean to be a “jack of all trades?”

Like many people, you’ve probably used idioms or phrases like these without giving them a second thought. But if you were to take a moment to step back and learn about them, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover the mesmerizing and sometimes outright bizarre origins to these fun sayings!

In Why Do We Say That, we have curated 101 regularly used idioms, proverbs, turns of phrases, and colloquial terms that have the most fascinating backstories. For each phrase, we have explained how it was coined, how its use evolved through the ages, and how it gained its contemporary use.

Inside you will discover:

- Why people go “green with envy” instead of a different color

- How “knocking on wood” gives you good luck

- Why some people talk a lot of “mumbo jumbo”

- How “Bob” can be everyone’s uncle

- Why someone would want to be a “devil’s advocate”

- And much, much more!

Click the BUY NOW button at the top of the page to unravel the mysteries behind popular English

© 2022 Scott Matthews (Audiobook): 9781669656531

Release date

Audiobook: 18 June 2022

Others also enjoyed ...

  1. Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er: A Vocabulary Builder For The Lexical Deficient Interlocutor Albeit Soon-To-Be Supercilious Smarty Pants Confabulator
    Big & Fancy Words That Might Make You Smarter...er: A Vocabulary Builder For The Lexical Deficient Interlocutor Albeit Soon-To-Be Supercilious Smarty Pants Confabulator Albert B. Squid
  2. Africa
    Africa Xist Publishing
  3. How To Learn a Foreign Language: Your Step By Step Guide To Learning a Foreign Language
    How To Learn a Foreign Language: Your Step By Step Guide To Learning a Foreign Language HowExpert
  4. Glamorous Grammar Vocabulary System: Speed Learning Now Vocabulary Builder
    Glamorous Grammar Vocabulary System: Speed Learning Now Vocabulary Builder Liv Montgomery
  5. The Complete Test My English: Beginner to Advanced: How Good Are You?
    The Complete Test My English: Beginner to Advanced: How Good Are You? Jenny Smith.
  6. Kickstart Your American Accent: Step-by-Step Accent Training for American English
    Kickstart Your American Accent: Step-by-Step Accent Training for American English American English Tutoring
  7. The 3 Hour Speed Reading Book: A Comprehensive Guide to Improve Your Memory And Concentration Tremendously And Change Your Life. How To Boost And Double Your Reading Speed In 3 Hours
    The 3 Hour Speed Reading Book: A Comprehensive Guide to Improve Your Memory And Concentration Tremendously And Change Your Life. How To Boost And Double Your Reading Speed In 3 Hours Claude Maimedash
  8. English Pronunciation Secrets: The Game-Changing Guide to Mastering the General American Accent
    English Pronunciation Secrets: The Game-Changing Guide to Mastering the General American Accent Rebecca Bower
  9. International English Teacher 101: How to Start, Grow, and Succeed as an International English Teacher Worldwide
    International English Teacher 101: How to Start, Grow, and Succeed as an International English Teacher Worldwide HowExpert
  10. Grammar for a Full Life: How the Ways We Shape a Sentence Can Limit or Enlarge Us
    Grammar for a Full Life: How the Ways We Shape a Sentence Can Limit or Enlarge Us Lawrence Weinstein
  11. The Witches of Pendle
    The Witches of Pendle Rowena Akinyemi
  12. Learn Chinese - Level 3: Lower Beginner Chinese: Volume 2: Lessons 1-25
    Learn Chinese - Level 3: Lower Beginner Chinese: Volume 2: Lessons 1-25 Innovative Language Learning
  13. Automatic Fluency® French Level 1: 8 Hours of Intense French Fluency Instruction
    Automatic Fluency® French Level 1: 8 Hours of Intense French Fluency Instruction Mark Frobose
  14. Learn French: French Survival Phrases, Volume 1: Lessons 1-25
    Learn French: French Survival Phrases, Volume 1: Lessons 1-25 Innovative Language Learning
  15. Talking Business
    Talking Business Clive Griffiths
  16. Punchy Promos Vocabulary System: Speed Learning Now Vocabulary Builder
    Punchy Promos Vocabulary System: Speed Learning Now Vocabulary Builder Liv Montgomery
  17. Spanish Indispensables
    Spanish Indispensables Audio-Forum
  18. Learn German: Ultimate Guide to Speaking Business German for Beginners: Deluxe Edition
    Learn German: Ultimate Guide to Speaking Business German for Beginners: Deluxe Edition Innovative Language Learning
  19. Fifty Daily English and Spanish Conversations: 50 Real conversations that will save your day!
    Fifty Daily English and Spanish Conversations: 50 Real conversations that will save your day! Eliú López
  20. Automatic Fluency® French Level 2: 8 Hours of Intense Intermediate French Fluency Instruction
    Automatic Fluency® French Level 2: 8 Hours of Intense Intermediate French Fluency Instruction Mark Frobose
  21. Rapid German, Vols. 1 & 2
    Rapid German, Vols. 1 & 2 Earworms Learning
  22. Job Interview: How to Negotiate and Answer Every Question the Right Way
    Job Interview: How to Negotiate and Answer Every Question the Right Way Derrick Foresight
  23. Vocabulary Words Brilliance: Learn How to Quickly and Creatively Memorize and Remember English Dictionary Vocab Words for SAT, ACT, & GRE Test Prep It
    Vocabulary Words Brilliance: Learn How to Quickly and Creatively Memorize and Remember English Dictionary Vocab Words for SAT, ACT, & GRE Test Prep It Luis Angel Echeverria
  24. Learn German: Must-Know German Slang Words & Phrases: Extended Version
    Learn German: Must-Know German Slang Words & Phrases: Extended Version Innovative Language Learning
  25. Bite-Sized German in Ten Minutes a Day: Begin Speaking German Immediately with Easy Bite-Sized Lessons During Your Down Time!
    Bite-Sized German in Ten Minutes a Day: Begin Speaking German Immediately with Easy Bite-Sized Lessons During Your Down Time! Mark Frobose
  26. An Introductory German Language Course
    An Introductory German Language Course Otto Stein
  27. French: Proven Techniques to Learn and Speak French
    French: Proven Techniques to Learn and Speak French Made for Success
  28. Verbalicious Vocabulary System: Speak with Confidence with 750 English Language Vocabulary Words
    Verbalicious Vocabulary System: Speak with Confidence with 750 English Language Vocabulary Words Liv Montgomery
  29. Photographic Memory: How to improving your memory and learn how to learn
    Photographic Memory: How to improving your memory and learn how to learn Lawrence Franz
  30. Learn Chinese - Level 3: Lower Beginner Chinese: Volume 1: Lessons 1-25
    Learn Chinese - Level 3: Lower Beginner Chinese: Volume 1: Lessons 1-25 Innovative Language Learning
  31. Learn Russian: Russian Survival Phrases, Volume 1: Lessons 1-30
    Learn Russian: Russian Survival Phrases, Volume 1: Lessons 1-30 Innovative Language Learning
  32. 21 Day English Guide for Tourists Visiting America: Learn How to Speak English in 21 Days With 1 Hour a Day While You Visit America
    21 Day English Guide for Tourists Visiting America: Learn How to Speak English in 21 Days With 1 Hour a Day While You Visit America HowExpert
  33. Learn Chinese - Level 6: Lower Intermediate Chinese: Volume 1: Lessons 1-25
    Learn Chinese - Level 6: Lower Intermediate Chinese: Volume 1: Lessons 1-25 Innovative Language Learning
  34. Everyday French for Beginners - 400 Actions & Activities
    Everyday French for Beginners - 400 Actions & Activities Innovative Language Learning
  35. Learn German: A Complete Phrase Compilation for Traveling to Germany
    Learn German: A Complete Phrase Compilation for Traveling to Germany Innovative Language Learning
  36. Public Speaking Essentials: Six Steps to Sizzle on Stage
    Public Speaking Essentials: Six Steps to Sizzle on Stage Ramakrishna Reddy
  37. German for Lawyers: A Course In German Legal Vocabulary and Introductory German
    German for Lawyers: A Course In German Legal Vocabulary and Introductory German Ulli Wagner
  38. Public Speaking Without Fear: Dominate the Stage with the Help of Hypnosis
    Public Speaking Without Fear: Dominate the Stage with the Help of Hypnosis ANTONIO JAIMEZ
  39. Learn French: Ultimate Guide to Speaking Business French for Beginners: Deluxe Edition
    Learn French: Ultimate Guide to Speaking Business French for Beginners: Deluxe Edition Innovative Language Learning
  40. Learn Norwegian With Music
    Learn Norwegian With Music Innovative Language Learning
  41. Power French Verbs: Immediately Start Speaking Beginning to High-Intermediate French Verbs in Context!
    Power French Verbs: Immediately Start Speaking Beginning to High-Intermediate French Verbs in Context! Mark Frobose
  42. Housemates
    Housemates Alison Watts
  43. Brain Training and Speed Reading: Guide to increase your reading speed and train your brain
    Brain Training and Speed Reading: Guide to increase your reading speed and train your brain Jason M. Kirst
  44. Achieving Authenticity in Received Pronunciation - A Toolkit For Actors: Learn the Basics of RP and Sound Like a Native Speaker
    Achieving Authenticity in Received Pronunciation - A Toolkit For Actors: Learn the Basics of RP and Sound Like a Native Speaker Stephanie Lam
  45. How To Prepare For An Interview: Your Step By Step Guide To Preparing For An Interview
    How To Prepare For An Interview: Your Step By Step Guide To Preparing For An Interview HowExpert