Episodes

  • Origin and Meaning of "Paint the Town" Plus Word of the Day

    Origin and Meaning of "Paint the Town" Plus Word of the Day
    Jul 22 2025
    In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of "Paint the town" and "Paint the town red".

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    Sources:

    "Paint the town red". Phrases.org. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/paint-the-town-red.html

    "A HYPOTHESIS AS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE ‘TO PAINT THE TOWN RED’". "Word Histories". https://wordhistories.net/2016/08/26/paint-the-town-red/#:~:text=7%2D:%20A%20SPREE%20AT%20MELTON%20MOWBRAY%2C%20LEICESTERSHIRE%2C%20IN%201837&text=an%20actual%20piece%20of%20drunken,and%20only%20Paint%20at%20Night.&text=Untouched%20by%20something%20most%20appalling

    "Why do we say ‘Paint the town red’?". "History Extra". Link: https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/paint-town-red-why-say-origins-meaning-history/
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com
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    Technical information:

    Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    Key words:

    Paint the town red, Marquis_of_Waterford,
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    10 mins
  • Origin and Meaning of "Dead Ringer" Plus Word of the Day

    Origin and Meaning of "Dead Ringer" Plus Word of the Day
    Jun 16 2025
    In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the saying, "Dead Ringer". You also learn the false persistent myth - spread on Facebook - as to the origin of the phrase.

    Word of the day: Rubicon. Definition and history shared in episode.
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    Sources:

    "Phrase origins linked to burials is dead wrong" by David Williams. AAP FactCheck. Link: https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/phrase-origins-linked-to-burials-is-dead-wrong/



    "A Dead Ringer". Phrase Finder. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/dead-ringer.html
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com
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    Technical information:

    Recorded with Audio Hijack. Edits with Twisted Wave, Audacity (noise reduction, click removal), Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and renderting with Hindenburg Pro to include generic voice profiler. Microphone: SE DynaCaster DCM8.
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    Key words:

    rubicon, crossing_the_rubicon, graveyard_shift, saved_by_the_bell,
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    12 mins
  • Origin and Meaning of "Get Your Ducks in a Row" Plus Word of the Day

    Origin and Meaning of "Get Your Ducks in a Row" Plus Word of the Day
    May 7 2025
    In this episode you discover the meaning and reported potential origins of the saying, "Get Your Ducks in a Row". You also discover this episode's "Word of the Day", Magnanimous.

    Sources:

    "Why Do We Say “Get Your Ducks in a Row”?". WordSmarts.com. Link: https://wordsmarts.com/ducks-in-a-row/

    "Museum Minute: The surprising origin of the phrase, ‘get your ducks in a row'". WyomingPublicMedia.org. Link: https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/show/wyoming-minute/2024-06-06/the-surprising-origin-of-the-phrase-get-your-ducks-in-a-row

    "Ducks in a Row – Meaning and Origin". Grammarist.com. Link: https://grammarist.com/idiom/get-ones-ducks-in-a-row-and-have-ones-ducks-in-a-row/
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com
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    Technical information:

    Recorded and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Audacity, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    11 mins
  • Origin and Meaning of "Spill the Beans" and "Spill the Tea"

    Origin and Meaning of "Spill the Beans" and "Spill the Tea"
    Apr 1 2025
    In this episode you discover the origin and true meaning of the sayings, "Spill the Beans" and "Spill the Tea".

    References for more information:

    "Where Does the Phrase 'Spilling the Beans' Come From?". "Readers Digest. Link: "https://www.rd.com/article/spill-the-beans-meaning/

    "Spill the Beans | Meaning, Origin & Examples". Quillbot.com. Link: https://quillbot.com/blog/idioms/spill-the-beans/

    “Spill the Tea” – Meaning & Origin (With Examples). "GrammerHow.com". Link: https://grammarhow.com/spill-the-tea-meaning-origin/
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com
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    Technical information:

    Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Hush, Levelator, and Audyllic. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    10 mins
  • Origin of "Take It With a Grain of Salt"

    Origin of "Take It With a Grain of Salt"
    Mar 6 2025
    In this episode, you discover the origin and true meaning of the phrase, "Take it with a grain of salt".
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    Resources:

    "Take It With a Grain of Salt | Meaning & Examples". Quilbot.com. Link: https://quillbot.com/blog/idioms/take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt/

    "Where Did the Phrase “Take It with a Grain of Salt” Come From?". Reader's Digest. Link: https://www.rd.com/article/take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt/

    "The Ancient Origins Behind The Phrase 'Grain Of Salt'
    Read More: https://www.thedailymeal.com/1170576/the-ancient-origins-behind-the-phrase-grain-of-salt/

    "Take This Article with a Grain of Salt". Link: https://allthewhyser.wordpress.com/2021/10/11/take-this-article-with-a-grain-of-salt/
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com
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    Technical information:

    Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amedus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: ProAR C-414.
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    9 mins
  • Origin and Meaning of "Double Dog Dare"

    Origin and Meaning of "Double Dog Dare"
    Feb 11 2025
    As youngsters interact, sooner or later one young person will challenge another to do something dangerous, stupid, or pointless. Phrases like, "I dare you", "I double dare you", and - when those words don't get the desired effect - the challenge will be elevated to, "I double dog dare you!". In this episode you discover how old this challenge is and how it came to be.
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com.
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    Resources:

    "Double-dog dare". Website: Phrases.org.uk. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/26/messages/1216.html

    "Where Does the Term ‘Double Dog Dare’ Come From?". Mental Floss. Link: https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/double-dog-dare-origins#:~:text=All%20it%20really%20takes%20is,the%20dreaded%20triple%20dog%20dare.

    "go to the dogs". Vocabulary.com. Link: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/go%20to%20the%20dogs#

    Technical information:

    Recording and initial edits with Twisted Wave. Additional edits with Amadeus Pro, Audacity (de-click and de-esser), Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    11 mins
  • Origin and True Meaning of "A Fly in the Ointment"

    Origin and True Meaning of "A Fly in the Ointment"
    Jan 8 2025
    In this episode you discover the true meaning and origin of the phrase, "The fly in the ointment".
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    References:

    "A fly in the ointmen". "Grammarphobia". Link: https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2021/04/fly-in-the-ointment.html

    "A fly in the ointment". "Phrase Finder". Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/fly-in-the-ointment.html

    "Weather Words: Fly In The Ointment". "Weather Underground". Link: https://www.wunderground.com/article/science/weather-explainers/news/2025-01-03-weather-words-fly-in-the-ointment-2024

    "Fly in the ointment". Wikipedia.org. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_in_the_ointment
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com.
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    Technical information:

    Recorded with Ocenaudio. Edits with Twisted Wave, Hush, and Levelator. Spectral edits with Ocenaudio. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro. Microphone: Earthworks Ethos.
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    9 mins
  • Origin and Meaning of "Bury the Hatchet"

    Origin and Meaning of "Bury the Hatchet"
    Nov 25 2024
    In this episode you'll discover the meaning and origin of the phrase, "Bury the Hatchet".

    Sources:

    "'Stand your butt up': Fistfight nearly breaks out during Senate hearing until Bernie Sanders steps in". NBC News. Link: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/stand-butt-fistfight-nearly-breaks-senate-hearing-bernie-sanders-steps-rcna125140

    "Hatchet". Wikipedia.org. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatchet#:~:text=A%20hatchet%20(from%20the%20Old,hammerhead%20on%20the%20other%20side.

    "What's the meaning of the phrase 'Bury the hatchet'?" PhrasesFinder.com.UK. Link: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bury-the-hatchet.html#google_vignette

    "Burying the hatchet". Wikipedia.org. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burying_the_hatchet
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    Host:

    Stephen Carter - Website: https://StressReliefRadio.com - Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com
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    Technical information:

    Recorded with Audio Hijack. Edits with Twisted Wave, Amadeus Pro, Hush, and Levelator. Final edits and rendering with Hindenburg Pro to include VEA plugin. Microphone: Eathworks Ethos.
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    Show More Show Less
    11 mins