RTÉ - Language Bites

Boobies? Yes, this word is all about birds, but not THAT kind of bird…

This phrase has blood on its hands, so to speak, as it involves bloodthirsty hounds and an utterly cruel chase.

For this phrase we step into the British House of Commons and learn more about a certain velvet bag….

This phrase has nothing to do with fruit and everything to do with cockney slang.

The racetracks of the US and dodgy bookies are the unlikely origins of this phrase.

We travel to 19th century America for this phrase, and it involved conniving politicians and a good old fashioned knees-up.

This phrase involves a streaker on a horse and a sneaky tailor with an eye for the women.

This phrase involves 18th century Africa, an intrepid explorer and some domestic ructions.

This phrase takes us back to ancient Rome and an odd superstition involving grumpy spirits and your bed.

This phrase is the result of an odd Roman superstition involving left-handed and left-footed people.

Grave robbers, gore and the pursuit of knowledge gave rise to this 19th-century phrase.

What do an English inventor and Australian boozers have in common? This word.

This phrase has it all: highwaymen, desperate measures to beat the hangman, and an incredibly inventive idea...

The Irish language gave rise to one version of this word; American English gave us the current version. And it all rests on a dubious Irish reputation for dodgy jewellery.

This is a 19th century phrase that was made popular by members of the criminal community.

An odd interplay between storytelling and construction gave rise to this phrase.

Take a trip into the world of Greek Mythology and visit a wise oracle to discover the origins of this phrase.

This is one of the many synonyms for "understand", and it involves pedantic sailors and good long rope.

An old sartorial tradition helped give rise to this phrase.

This phrase involves religious persecution, divine intervention and a plain old lucky streak.