Our American Stories

"Tie the Knot" & "Blackballed" and the Wonderful Origins of Everyday Expressions (Pt. 23)

September 22, 2026·7 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

On this episode of Our American Stories, why do we say a married couple "tied the knot"? How did rejecting someone become known as "blackballing" them? And what do sailing ships have to do with being "under the weather" or finding yourself in a "touch and go" situation?Andrew Thompson, author of Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases, returns with the surprising stories behind some of the expressions we use every day, from "double cross" and "turn a blind eye" to "turn the tables," "two-faced," and more. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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