Lexiconned

In this episode of Lexiconned, host TJ Martin takes us on a tour of everyday trouble, decoding ten expressions born from secrecy, stress, and slip-ups. From medieval market scams to nautical metaphors, learn how we dress up life’s chaos in vivid, memorable turns of phrase. 

Explore the expressions: Caught Red Handed, Bite the Bullet, Kick the Bucket, Skeletons in the Closet, Let the Cat out of the Bag, Under the Weather, Hit the Fan...

Episode Description
Why do we say "by and large" when we mean "generally"? And how did a dozen turn into thirteen? In this Lexiconned episode, TJ explores curious expressions tied to measurement: "Give an Inch (Take a Mile)," "By and Large," "A Baker's Dozen," "In Spades," "A Hair's Breadth," "To the Nines," and "Second to None."...

Truth.
 It built our loyalties.  It fueled revolutions.  It shaped law, journalism, art—and everything we trust (or don’t).

In this special Foundations episode of Lexiconned, we explore the complex roots of one of humanity’s most powerful—and most contested—words.

From ancient oaths to Enlightenment science to today’s digital battlegrounds, truth has been worshiped, weaponized, and worn thin.

Where did it come from?  How has it ev...

What does justice really mean? In this powerful long-form episode, TJ breaks down the word that lives at the heart of courtrooms, protests, and moral debates around the world. From Hammurabi to hip-hop, Supreme Court rulings to superhero stories, we trace justice’s tangled roots through language, law, and culture—and ask whether it can ever truly live up to its name.

Links to Supreme Court Cases Referenced:
Dred Scott v. Sandfor...

For the month of May we are kicking off a series, I’m calling foundations. This is the first episode in that mini-series.

Freedom is one of the most powerful—and most misunderstood—words in the English language. In this extended deep-dive, TJ traces the word from its ancient Proto-Indo-European roots to its modern cultural clashes. Along the way, we examine what freedom meant to medieval peasants, Civil War soldiers, civil rights ac...

How Horse Racing Shaped the Way We Speak
Dark horse. Down to the wire. Photo finish.
These aren’t just racing terms—they’re the language of life, competition, and culture.

In this special Lexiconned bonus episode, TJ heads to the track—linguistically speaking—to explore 12 iconic phrases that began at the races but ended up everywhere else.

From political campaigns to product launches, these metaphors shape how we think abo...

In this episode, TJ dives into the frustrating and humorously ironic history of "red tape." From King Charles V’s attempts at administrative modernization to modern-day governmental battles against paperwork, discover why bureaucracy never seems to die. Prepare yourself for a journey through layers of officialdom and comedic despair—welcome to the tangled world of red tape!

Don't forget to check out the podc...

Ever wondered why we divide our time into a seven-day cycle? Why is Sunday the “sun” day, and Wednesday such a spelling nightmare? In this episode of Lexiconned, TJ takes you through the history, mythology, and linguistic evolution of our week’s daily roll call—from celestial bodies to Norse gods, and a bit of Roman imperial influence. Learn how these seven words structure our lives and why we’re still stuck with them after thousan...

From Augusta’s fairways to your next metaphorical mulligan, the language of golf has reached far beyond the course. In this witty and word-rich episode of Lexiconned, we explore the origins, myths, and double meanings behind 18 iconic golf terms—from par and birdie to duff, shank, and mulligan.

Whether you're a scratch golfer or a vocabulary duffer, this episode tees up the surprising ways golf talk has made its way into everyd...

From mythological warrior women to the largest rainforest on Earth to the global e-commerce empire that changed how we shop, the word Amazon has carried power and mystery across millennia. In this episode of Lexiconned, we explore the Greek origins of the word, the colonial rebranding of a mighty river, and how a small online bookstore became an economic titan. Was the Amazon River really named after fierce female warriors? Did anc...

What makes a constitution? In this episode of Lexiconned, we unravel the history, evolution, and deeper meanings of the word ‘Constitution.’ From its Latin origins in ancient Rome to its transformation into the guiding principles of nations, we explore how this word has adapted over centuries—much like the U.S. Constitution itself.  Whether you’re a history buff, a language lover, or just someone who enjoys a good etymology deep di...

In this episode we dive into the history of measles, a word that originated from Latin misellus, meaning "little miserable".  Through a first-hand narrative set in 1912, we witness the devastating impact of measles in a world before vaccines. We explore its linguistic origins, its historical outbreaks, its devastating role in global pandemics, and its surprising influence on everyday language. We also examine the groundbr...

Hope is a powerful, universal concept—so much so that it has been woven into our language for centuries. But where does the word actually come from? Has it always meant what we think it does? From Old English roots to its evolution into modern optimism, we’ll unravel the history of ‘hope,’ its surprising etymology, and the ways it has been wielded both as inspiration and as manipulation.

What makes you hopeful? 

This episode is a spe...

Have you ever walked out of a store feeling like you just made a deal with the devil? That moment when a price tag makes you question whether you really need both of your limbs? In this episode of Lexiconned, we dive into the origins of the phrase ‘cost an arm and a leg.’ From debunking myths about portrait painters to tracing its rise in post-World War II America, we explore how this vivid expression became a go-to way to complain...

What do factory workers, sci-fi nightmares, and your Roomba all have in common? They all owe their existence to the word robot. In this episode of Lexiconned, we explore the origins of robot, from its creation in a Czech play to its modern implications in AI, automation, and ethics. Join TJ as he dissects how a simple word became one of the most futuristic—and unsettling—concepts of our time.

[SOURCES]

• R.U.R.—Rossum’s Univer...

What do medieval fire safety laws, teenage rebellion, and government lockdowns have in common? The word curfew! In this episode of Lexiconned, we trace the fiery origins of curfew back to its Old French roots (couvre-feu), explore how William the Conqueror used it to control England, and uncover how it evolved into a tool for social order (and teenage frustration). From historical edicts to modern-day riots, curfew has always been ...

 Love—it’s a word that carries more baggage than a bad breakup. But where does it come from, and how did it become the catch-all term for everything from deep friendship to obsessive romance? In this special Valentine’s Day episode of Lexiconned, we dive into the origins of love, tracing it from Old English lufu to Shakespeare’s poetry and beyond. We’ll explore love’s many linguistic forms, its role in history and literature, and s...

Whiskey: The Water of Life and the Spirit of History"
In this episode of Lexiconned, TJ pours into the rich, complex history of whiskey, the storied spirit that has warmed hearts and sparked debates for centuries. From its Gaelic roots as "uisce beatha"—the "water of life"—to its pivotal role in America’s Whiskey Rebellion, this episode explores whiskey’s journey across continents and centuries. Discove...

"Spam: From Mystery Meat to Digital Junk"
This week on Lexiconned, we’re diving into the meaty origins of a word that’s been clogging inboxes and fueling breakfast tables alike—spam. Where did it come from? Why did it stick? And how did a canned meat product go from wartime ration to internet annoyance? We’ll explore its humble beginnings, its unlikely role in comedy history, and the tech twist that gave it a second l...