Our daily lives are filled with little sayings and habits that we don't think much about. Many of them have their roots in history and were passed down from our ancestors, and though the reasons for them have often been forgotten, they linger still. Have you ever wondered:
- Why is there a best man at weddings and why are brides carried over the threshold?
- Why is an eager person "gung ho" and a coward "yellow"?
- Why is football played on a "gridiron" and a leg injury called a "charley horse"?
- Why do the British drive on the left and North Americans on the right?
The answers to these questions and the origins of hundreds of other expressions and customs are brought together in this fascinating collection based on the nationally-syndicated radio feature "Now You Know," which reaches a daily audience of over a million Canadians. With all the conciseness of the original radio scripts, Doug Lennox tells you the things you always wanted to know.
About the Author
Dougn Lennox is best known through his 35 years as a freelance writer, producer, and host in Canadian radio and television. His work at the CBC with such legends as Anne Murray, Sylvia Tyson, Oscar Peterson, Anton Kuerti and Ronnie Hawkins, among a host of others, has won him acclaim and international recognition. As an actor, he has been featured in many movies and television dramas, including X-Men, The Herd, Nero Wolfe, Odyssey 5, and Against the Ropes.
Why do we call New York the “The Big Apple" ?
How did an English police force become known as “Scotland Yard”?
Why the American presidential home is called the “White House”?
Why do we say,” When in Rome, do as the Romans do”?
Why do we call prostitutes “hookers”?
Why a self-employed professional is called a “freelancer”?
Why a lazy, irresponsible person is called “shiftless”?.
How did sunglasses originate?
Why is the speed of a ship measured in knots?
Is it the tower or the clock on the British Houses of Parliament that is called Big Ben
What was a “computer” before the electronic age?
Why is the lump in a man’s throat called an Adam’s apple?
What is the origin of the Ivy League?
Is Mount Everest the world’s tallest mountain?
Precisely who qualifies as a baby boomer?
What is the world’s largest number named?
What is Jackdaws love my big sphinx of quartz,”?