-
Why Do We Say That?
- 101 Idioms, Phrases, Sayings & Facts! A Brief History on Where They Come From!
- Narrated by: Mandy Grant-Grierson
- Length: 1 hr and 32 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
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 mouths? 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.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Great Book of American Idioms
- A Dictionary of American Idioms, Sayings, Expressions & Phrases
- By: Lingo Mastery
- Narrated by: Jason Sullivan
- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sure, you can learn English with a language course or a textbook just fine, and climb up the ranks in terms of your grasp of the language....but are you sure you can talk like a native? For starters, many expressions used by fluent speakers of English can’t exactly be learned in a book, and it can be frustrating to realize that your formal learning hasn’t been enough to teach you the way people talk in real life. Sometimes, it’s all about having the right tools at your disposal...and this is where The Great Book of American Idioms comes in!
-
-
Outstanding!
- By Educated Shopper on 06-25-23
By: Lingo Mastery
-
English Grammar Rules 101
- 10 Essential Rules to Improving Your Writing, Speaking and Literature Skills for Students and Beginners
- By: Melony Jacobs
- Narrated by: Darren Schilling
- Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Have you ever wondered how to improve your English grammar skills with little to no effort at all? How about the most effective ways to master punctuation and structure sentences like a professional book editor? If so, keep reading because you’re in for a treat...The information contained in this audiobook is designed to help fix your grammar skills once and for all. The application of what you learn in this audiobook can help you see results in as little as one week, and change your life forever.
-
-
No content
- By viktoriya phillips on 04-29-21
By: Melony Jacobs
-
Interesting Facts for Curious Minds
- 1572 Random but Mind-Blowing Facts About History, Science, Pop Culture and Everything in Between
- By: Jordan Moore
- Narrated by: Robin LaRose
- Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Interesting Facts For Curious Minds gives you the answer to all these and many, many more questions that I know have crossed your mind from time to time. This book is divided into 63 chapters by topic for your convenience, bringing you a nice mix of science, history, pop culture, and all sorts of stuff in between. Each chapter contains 25 concise yet engaging factoids that are sure to make you think and at times laugh.
-
-
Very good
- By Cycleash on 12-28-22
By: Jordan Moore
-
The Story Behind
- The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects
- By: Emily Prokop
- Narrated by: Emily Prokop
- Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Many of us learn about the major inventions that shape our world. But we too often overlook the objects we use every day. In The Story Behind, Emily Prokop, creator of the Webby Award nominated podcast, explores the who, how, and huh? of everything from Band-Aids to bubble gum; hypnosis to Hula Hoops; and lullabies to lead pipes. Along the way, she demonstrates how the major events of history - from wars, plagues and revolutions to historic achievements and discoveries - have influenced some of the world’s most pervasive inventions.
-
-
One third of the book is repeated after initial description of subject under “TLDR” ..?
- By Dogs Land on 03-25-24
By: Emily Prokop
-
History Smashers: The Mayflower
- History Smashers
- By: Kate Messner
- Narrated by: Annette Amelia Oliveira
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and made friends with Wampanoag people who gave them corn. RIGHT? WRONG! It was months before the Pilgrims met any Wampanoag people, and nobody gave anybody corn that day.
-
-
Wonderful account of what happened
- By person on 11-27-22
By: Kate Messner
-
The Epic Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts Bundle
- Random Knowledge and Awesome Trivia Questions
- By: Zach Olson
- Narrated by: Warren Keys
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Listening to such facts and stories is perfect for killing time when you are waiting in your doctor’s office, the barbershop, or even for making a road trip more entertaining. Imagine how much fun it would be to play this trivia quiz with your family rather than everyone staring at their phone.
-
-
So much fun!
- By Runs With Scissors on 04-09-24
By: Zach Olson
-
The Great Book of American Idioms
- A Dictionary of American Idioms, Sayings, Expressions & Phrases
- By: Lingo Mastery
- Narrated by: Jason Sullivan
- Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sure, you can learn English with a language course or a textbook just fine, and climb up the ranks in terms of your grasp of the language....but are you sure you can talk like a native? For starters, many expressions used by fluent speakers of English can’t exactly be learned in a book, and it can be frustrating to realize that your formal learning hasn’t been enough to teach you the way people talk in real life. Sometimes, it’s all about having the right tools at your disposal...and this is where The Great Book of American Idioms comes in!
-
-
Outstanding!
- By Educated Shopper on 06-25-23
By: Lingo Mastery
-
English Grammar Rules 101
- 10 Essential Rules to Improving Your Writing, Speaking and Literature Skills for Students and Beginners
- By: Melony Jacobs
- Narrated by: Darren Schilling
- Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Have you ever wondered how to improve your English grammar skills with little to no effort at all? How about the most effective ways to master punctuation and structure sentences like a professional book editor? If so, keep reading because you’re in for a treat...The information contained in this audiobook is designed to help fix your grammar skills once and for all. The application of what you learn in this audiobook can help you see results in as little as one week, and change your life forever.
-
-
No content
- By viktoriya phillips on 04-29-21
By: Melony Jacobs
-
Interesting Facts for Curious Minds
- 1572 Random but Mind-Blowing Facts About History, Science, Pop Culture and Everything in Between
- By: Jordan Moore
- Narrated by: Robin LaRose
- Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Interesting Facts For Curious Minds gives you the answer to all these and many, many more questions that I know have crossed your mind from time to time. This book is divided into 63 chapters by topic for your convenience, bringing you a nice mix of science, history, pop culture, and all sorts of stuff in between. Each chapter contains 25 concise yet engaging factoids that are sure to make you think and at times laugh.
-
-
Very good
- By Cycleash on 12-28-22
By: Jordan Moore
-
The Story Behind
- The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects
- By: Emily Prokop
- Narrated by: Emily Prokop
- Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Many of us learn about the major inventions that shape our world. But we too often overlook the objects we use every day. In The Story Behind, Emily Prokop, creator of the Webby Award nominated podcast, explores the who, how, and huh? of everything from Band-Aids to bubble gum; hypnosis to Hula Hoops; and lullabies to lead pipes. Along the way, she demonstrates how the major events of history - from wars, plagues and revolutions to historic achievements and discoveries - have influenced some of the world’s most pervasive inventions.
-
-
One third of the book is repeated after initial description of subject under “TLDR” ..?
- By Dogs Land on 03-25-24
By: Emily Prokop
-
History Smashers: The Mayflower
- History Smashers
- By: Kate Messner
- Narrated by: Annette Amelia Oliveira
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and made friends with Wampanoag people who gave them corn. RIGHT? WRONG! It was months before the Pilgrims met any Wampanoag people, and nobody gave anybody corn that day.
-
-
Wonderful account of what happened
- By person on 11-27-22
By: Kate Messner
-
The Epic Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts Bundle
- Random Knowledge and Awesome Trivia Questions
- By: Zach Olson
- Narrated by: Warren Keys
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Listening to such facts and stories is perfect for killing time when you are waiting in your doctor’s office, the barbershop, or even for making a road trip more entertaining. Imagine how much fun it would be to play this trivia quiz with your family rather than everyone staring at their phone.
-
-
So much fun!
- By Runs With Scissors on 04-09-24
By: Zach Olson
-
The Fun Trivia Questions Book
- A Small but Mighty General Knowledge Quiz about Random Facts (Fun Facts and Amazing Trivia Series)
- By: Zach Olson
- Narrated by: Warren Keyes
- Length: 2 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What strange household appliance inspired one of the first pairs of Nike sneakers? The co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman, was not only a legendary track and field coach, but also a great inventor. While looking for a way to make shoes faster, he was inspired by a particular household appliance....
-
-
Fascinating
- By Gina on 11-14-24
By: Zach Olson
-
What If? 2
- Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
- By: Randall Munroe
- Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The millions of people around the world who loved What If? still have questions, and those questions are getting stranger. Thank goodness xkcd creator Randall Munroe is here to help. Planning to ride a fire pole from the Moon back to Earth? The hardest part is sticking the landing. Hoping to cool the atmosphere by opening everyone’s freezer door at the same time? Maybe it’s time for a brief introduction to thermodynamics. Want to know what would happen if you rode a helicopter blade, made a lava lamp out of lava, or jumped on an erupting geyser? Okay, if you insist.
-
-
Interesting book, horrible narrator
- By Peter on 02-18-24
By: Randall Munroe
-
The Ultimate Serial Killer Trivia Book
- A Collection of Fascinating Facts and Disturbing Details About Infamous Serial Killers and Their Horrific Crimes (Perfect True Crime Gift)
- By: Jack Rosewood
- Narrated by: Moose Warywoda
- Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The public’s obsession with serial killers and weird murders is growing by the day, with more TV shows, movies and books now detailing the crimes of these human monsters. There’s no denying that we’re all fascinated by serial murder–it’s part of the human experience.
-
-
Ultimate?
- By Manny on 04-10-23
By: Jack Rosewood
-
The Ultimate Bathroom Reader
- Interesting Stories, Fun Facts and Just Crazy Weird Stuff to Keep You Entertained on the Crapper! (Perfect Gag Gift)
- By: Bill O'Neill
- Narrated by: Robin LaRose
- Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who doesn’t love a bit of random trivia now and then? Or, for that matter, who doesn’t enjoy plucking some obscure tidbit of information from the back of their mind and dropping it into conversation? Get The Ultimate Bathroom Reader, your ultimate source of interesting facts about a wide range of diverse topics. This audiobook is truly a quick-listen packed with information from cover to cover. All of these facts, plus hundreds more, are listed here, in simple, bite-size chunks - with a few pop quizzes thrown in just to keep your brain ticking over.
-
-
trivia you really didn't want to know
- By Anonymous User on 06-21-24
By: Bill O'Neill
-
Tough Riddles for Smart Kids
- 500 Riddles and Brain Teasers That Will Challenge the Whole Family
- By: Jenny Moore
- Narrated by: Courtney Encheff
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Even if you’re not familiar with solving riddles or you’ve never been good at it, once you’ve heard some of the questions in this audiobook, the creative juices will start flowing, and you will become sharper with each passing puzzle. The key is to be persistent! The best part? It’s an activity everyone can join in, and it can be done just about anywhere. During long car rides, as you go for a nice afternoon stroll, or even before bedtime as a story - every moment is a good moment.
-
-
This book is very inspiring and informative
- By John L. Landaverde on 07-23-20
By: Jenny Moore
-
A Game of Extremes
- 25 Exceptional Baseball Stories About What Happened On and Off the Field
- By: Roy Lingster
- Narrated by: Warren Sandwell
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Even in a sport as legendary as baseball, players are no exception to the roller-coaster ride of life. Every single person has their own tale of failure, courage, and success, no matter how big or small - it’s when you put them together that you unearth the ultimate underdog story. In A Game of Extremes, you will discover 25 stories of the most exceptional baseball players to this day, revealing a more transparent look at the lives of these famous athletes.
-
-
Only a few new stories, told amateurishly
- By Karen on 06-11-23
By: Roy Lingster
Related to this topic
-
The Boyfriend
- By: Freida McFadden
- Narrated by: Victoria Connolly, Robb Moreira
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot. Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet. Then the brutal murder of a young woman—the latest in a string of deaths across the coast—confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.
-
-
Just didn’t find it interesting.
- By Lori Cathey on 10-11-24
By: Freida McFadden
-
Here One Moment
- By: Liane Moriarty
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The plane is jam-packed. Every seat is taken. So of course the flight is delayed! Flight attendant Allegra Patel likes her job—she’s generally happy with her life, even if she can’t figure out why she hooks up with a man she barely speaks to—but today is her twenty-eighth birthday. She can think of plenty of things she’d rather be doing than placating a bunch of grumpy passengers.
-
-
Too much of the death lady!
- By karen on 09-28-24
By: Liane Moriarty
-
Atomic Habits
- An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
- By: James Clear
- Narrated by: James Clear
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving - every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change.
-
-
start here, if you are looking to achieve in life
- By NL on 10-22-18
By: James Clear
-
The Christmas Party
- By: Kathryn Croft
- Narrated by: Billie Piper, Avita Jay
- Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Sasha receives a call from her old university friend Gabby inviting her to spend Christmas at Gabby’s remote Scottish lake house, Sasha knows she shouldn’t go. Twelve years ago, on Christmas Eve, when Sasha and her five closest friends were celebrating the festive season, something truly horrific happened that would change the course of their friendship forever. Something that meant Sasha hasn’t spoken to any of them since that night.
-
-
The mystery of the story.
- By Charlene Gipson on 11-06-24
By: Kathryn Croft
-
All the Colors of the Dark
- By: Chris Whitaker
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Muhammad Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing. When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake. Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.
-
-
Best book of 2024
- By Jmo930 on 07-04-24
By: Chris Whitaker
-
10 Rules for the Perfect Murder
- By: James Patterson, Chris Tebbetts
- Narrated by: Reid Scott, Cobie Smulders, full cast
- Length: 3 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the killing of a prominent mob lawyer, NYPD homicide detectives Jacob Jackson and Caitlin Grimes start receive chilling, written “rules” for how to commit the perfect murder. "Rule number one for the perfect murder: Evidence is your enemy. Leave none behind." Jackson (Reid Scott) and Grimes (Cobie Smulders) race to find the killer, setting them on a collision course with the city’s crime underbelly, and a perpetrator who seems happy to toy with them. “Rule number two. No crimes of passion. The perfect murder is always business, never pleasure.”
-
-
Tricky
- By Robert Scott Read on 10-30-24
By: James Patterson, and others
-
The Boyfriend
- By: Freida McFadden
- Narrated by: Victoria Connolly, Robb Moreira
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot. Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet. Then the brutal murder of a young woman—the latest in a string of deaths across the coast—confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.
-
-
Just didn’t find it interesting.
- By Lori Cathey on 10-11-24
By: Freida McFadden
-
Here One Moment
- By: Liane Moriarty
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The plane is jam-packed. Every seat is taken. So of course the flight is delayed! Flight attendant Allegra Patel likes her job—she’s generally happy with her life, even if she can’t figure out why she hooks up with a man she barely speaks to—but today is her twenty-eighth birthday. She can think of plenty of things she’d rather be doing than placating a bunch of grumpy passengers.
-
-
Too much of the death lady!
- By karen on 09-28-24
By: Liane Moriarty
-
Atomic Habits
- An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
- By: James Clear
- Narrated by: James Clear
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving - every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change.
-
-
start here, if you are looking to achieve in life
- By NL on 10-22-18
By: James Clear
-
The Christmas Party
- By: Kathryn Croft
- Narrated by: Billie Piper, Avita Jay
- Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Sasha receives a call from her old university friend Gabby inviting her to spend Christmas at Gabby’s remote Scottish lake house, Sasha knows she shouldn’t go. Twelve years ago, on Christmas Eve, when Sasha and her five closest friends were celebrating the festive season, something truly horrific happened that would change the course of their friendship forever. Something that meant Sasha hasn’t spoken to any of them since that night.
-
-
The mystery of the story.
- By Charlene Gipson on 11-06-24
By: Kathryn Croft
-
All the Colors of the Dark
- By: Chris Whitaker
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Muhammad Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing. When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake. Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.
-
-
Best book of 2024
- By Jmo930 on 07-04-24
By: Chris Whitaker
-
10 Rules for the Perfect Murder
- By: James Patterson, Chris Tebbetts
- Narrated by: Reid Scott, Cobie Smulders, full cast
- Length: 3 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the killing of a prominent mob lawyer, NYPD homicide detectives Jacob Jackson and Caitlin Grimes start receive chilling, written “rules” for how to commit the perfect murder. "Rule number one for the perfect murder: Evidence is your enemy. Leave none behind." Jackson (Reid Scott) and Grimes (Cobie Smulders) race to find the killer, setting them on a collision course with the city’s crime underbelly, and a perpetrator who seems happy to toy with them. “Rule number two. No crimes of passion. The perfect murder is always business, never pleasure.”
-
-
Tricky
- By Robert Scott Read on 10-30-24
By: James Patterson, and others