Everybody pictures a locomotive. Everybody is wrong.On this episode of Appraise The Phrase, Mario and Twenty unveil the origin, confirm the meaning, and assess the value of "train of thought" — a phrase that shows up in Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan in 1651 and John Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding in 1690, roughly 165 years before locomotives existed. The railroad imagery in your head? That's folk etymology doing what folk etymology always does: replacing the real reason with a better story.Along the way: why every major dictionary fumbles the definition, what "brain rot" and "train of thought" have in common as conceptual metaphors, how ideological sedimentation means you're often repeating arguments you weren't alive for, and why AI reasoning is the modern version of the same problem. Plus Twenty loses his actual train of thought live on the mic, which may be the most on-topic thing to ever happen on this show.Also discussed: Damon Darling getting banned from Walmart for buying strangers' groceries, the I, Robot Sonny conspiracy, the Mandela Effect hill we will die on, and why red Kool-Aid is not strawberry.Then we appraise it. Power grade, Speed grade, Preference. And we close with the Dictionary of Misinformation on the Thanksgiving turkey you think the pilgrims ate.Value is in the eye of the appraiser.0:00 Sherlock Holmes' Deductions, AI, And Someone Else's Train Of Thought1:08 The ATP Intro Theme1:52 What's Good: Back To School And Breaking The Monotony4:19 Today's Phrase: Train Of Thought4:41 Twenty's Take: You Only Say It When You've Lost It6:10 Mario's Take: The Phrase Paints A Picture7:25 Confirm The Meaning: Merriam-Webster vs. Cambridge vs. Dictionary.com10:15 Why "A Path Of Reasoning" Can't Be The Definition10:44 Unveil The Origin: "Train" In The 14th Century Meant To Drag Or Trail12:50 Conceptual Metaphors And Brain Rot (Oxford's 2024 Word Of The Year)13:50 Twenty Loses His Train Of Thought On An Episode About Train Of Thought14:59 Brain Rot Confessions: Instagram, Love Island, Love Is Blind20:11 Walmart Banned Damon Darling For Buying People Groceries22:36 1651: Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, And The First Recorded Use23:57 Ideological Sedimentation: Inheriting Arguments You Never Had26:16 I, Robot: "Can A Robot Write A Symphony?" "Can You?"27:00 The Sonny Conspiracy: The Actor They Refused To Promote31:45 Why AI Gets Things Confidently Wrong32:14 Believed With Our Whole Chest: Y2K, The Mayans, And Flying Cars36:24 1690: John Locke, Association Of Ideas, And "Food For Thought"38:43 Train Of Thought Predates The Railroad By 165 Years40:11 "Sounds Like A Train To Me": How The Locomotive Got Its Name41:52 Edison Slander, Tesla, And The Prestige45:28 Institutional Formalization And Gen Z Slang Creep47:30 Folk Etymology: When The Better Lie Wins48:55 The Mandela Effect And The Shazam Hill We Will Die On50:55 Confidently Wrong: Red Kool-Aid Is Not Strawberry53:47 Pop Culture #1: Pixar's Inside Out54:44 #2: Sherlock Holmes And Guy Ritchie's Slow-Motion Deductions58:14 #3 The Greatest American Hero / #4 The Lost Train Of Thought59:28 The Appraisal: Power Grade And Impact Grade1:01:36 Final Grade1:02:37 Dictionary Of Misinformation: The Thanksgiving Turkey Myth1:04:41 The Watch List And Closing Thoughts1:05:48 Shop, Credits, And Where To Find Us

REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651) · John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) · David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature (1739) · Pixar's Inside Out (2015) · Sherlock Holmes (2009, dir. Guy Ritchie) · I, Robot (2004) · The Prestige (2006) · Slumdog Millionaire (2008) · The Greatest American Hero, "Train of Thought" (1982) · The Lost Train of Thought, The Seems series (2009)

COMMENT: Which pop culture moment captures a train of thought best — Inside Out or Sherlock? And what's a folk etymology you defended with your whole chest before you found out it was wrong?

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Where does ""wet my beak"" actually come from? We trace it from a 19th-century Sicilian grain custom to The Godfather — and yes, we get into He Got Game too. #AppraiseThePhrase #Etymology #WordOrigins #WetMyBeak #TheGodfather

Mario and Twenty unveil the origin, confirm the meaning, and assess the value of ""wet my beak."" The trail starts in 19th-century rural Sicily, where grain farmers were expected to give estate guards a little extra at harvest — ""fari vagnari lo pizzu,"" literally ""to wet the beak"" — the imagery being a bird dipping in to drink, not gorging itself. That custom got carried across the Atlantic and turned into something sharper: Mario Puzo used the exact Sicilian phrase in his 1969 novel The Godfather, putting it in the mouth of the extortionist Fanucci as he shakes down a young Vito Corleone. Coppola's Godfather Part II dramatized the same scene in 1974 — and the guys dig into whether the custom's original ""fairness"" survived the trip from grain tithe to mafia protection money.

Along the way: three dictionary definitions (Free Dictionary, Wiktionary, Urban Dictionary), a debate about whether extortion can ever be ""earned,"" a Power Grade and a Speed Grade, and a Dictionary of Misinformation segment busting the myth of who actually ""invented"" the wheel. Stick around for the He Got Game breakdown — once you hear how the guys connect Uncle Bubba's ""let me wet my beak"" line to this phrase, you won't hear it the same way again.

0:00 – He Got Game Uncle Bubba Opener

1:20 – Intro & Catching Up

Confirm The Meaning

10:34 – Introducing ""Wet My Beak"" + Dictionary Definitions

Unveil The Origin

18:25 – Origin: 19th-Century Sicilian Grain Custom

30:31 – Literary Origin: Mario Puzo's The Godfather (1969)

34:19 – Is Extortion Ever Fair? A Real Debate

45:44 – Cinematic Origin: The Godfather Part II (1974)

Storytime

29:16 – The ""I Can't Stress This Enough"" Delivery Bit

50:45 – Personal Reflection: The Pettiest Toll You've Ever Collected

Assess The Value

55:55 – Power Grade

58:04 – Speed Grade

59:53 – He Got Game, Revisited

1:02:05 – Dictionary of Misinformation: Who Invented the Wheel?

1:04:11 – Outro & Shop

LINKS

Subscribe to Appraise The Phrase on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnderdog

Appraise The Phrase official site: appraisethephrase.com

ATP Shop — mugs & merch: appraisethephrase.com/shop

Check out our other ATP produced shows: appraisethephrase.com/community

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4jLFx2WLEslKF3BHWWvIlv?si=367e5762bdb9464a

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appraise-the-phrase/id1570186367

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theappraisethephraseshow

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Previous Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmMMLmEcgaa3C1d_wZrZuWAJGB_mYQraB&si=Igvwjz9UT5dbnx7T

Episode Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@AppraiseThePhraseClips

ABOUT APPRAISE THE PHRASE

Appraise The Phrase is a weekly podcast from the Underdog Podcast Network where the hosts unveil the origin, confirm the meaning, and assess the value of the everyday phrases and idioms we all use without ever asking where they came from. Each episode ends with a Power Grade and a round of the Dictionary of Misinformation, debunking a popular word-origin myth.

New episodes every week. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Talk is cheap" wasn't born as a comeback — it started as a 1692 sermon line from a Puritan preacher. We trace it from theology to P.T. Barnum's bankruptcy lecture tour to Linus Torvalds' Linux mailing list.

On this episode of Appraise The Phrase, Mario and Twenty unveil the origin, confirm the meaning, and assess the value of "talk is cheap." They trace it back to John Bunyan's 1692 devotional "The Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love" ("I know words are cheap, but a drum of grace is worth all the world"), through Thomas Chandler Haliburton's 1843 novel "The Attaché" and its blunt Yankee clock-peddler narrator Sam Slick, to P.T. Barnum's 1858 lawyer joke — delivered the same year he turned his own bankruptcy into a paid lecture tour that helped pay off nearly half a million dollars in debt.

They compare Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, and Wiktionary definitions, debate how "talk is cheap" differs from "actions speak louder than words," and rank the phrase's pop-culture footprint — Keith Richards' "Talk Is Cheap" album (a jab at Mick Jagger), Bob Marley, Henry Rollins' spoken-word records, Miley Cyrus, Linus Torvalds' "talk is cheap, show me the code," Cesar Chavez's labor speeches, Marco Rubio's 2016 debates, and Mark Zuckerberg's build-first ethos — before handing out a final Power Grade. Then it's on to the Dictionary of Misinformation, busting the myth of the elephant graveyard.

0:00 DMX Ruff Ryder's Anthem, Wilt Chamberlain 100 Pt Game, Man On The Moon Opener

0:47 Appraise The Phrase Theme

1:14 Welcome to Appraise The Phrase

6:11 Today's Phrase: "Talk Is Cheap"

Confirm The Meaning

6:46 Breaking Down the Meaning

10:55 Dictionary Definitions (Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, Wiktionary)

Unveil The Origin

14:12 Origin: John Bunyan's 1692 Sermon

27:55 1843: Sam Slick & "The Attaché"

37:37 1858: P.T. Barnum's Bankruptcy Lecture Tour

41:32 The Folk Proverb Era (Whiskey & Farms)

Storytime

24:54 Reflection: Living Your Values

30:18 Ranking the Pop Culture Impact

32:40 Modern Uses: Torvalds, Chavez, Rubio, Zuckerberg

Assess The Value

44:04 The Phrase Grades: Rating Talk Is Cheap

48:11 Dictionary of Misinformation: Elephant Graveyards

49:45 Outro & Credits

LINKS

Subscribe to Appraise The Phrase on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnderdog

Appraise The Phrase official site: appraisethephrase.com

ATP Shop — mugs & merch: appraisethephrase.com/shop

Check out our other ATP produced shows: appraisethephrase.com/community

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4jLFx2WLEslKF3BHWWvIlv?si=367e5762bdb9464a

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appraise-the-phrase/id1570186367

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theappraisethephraseshow

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@appraisethephrase

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Previous Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmMMLmEcgaa3C1d_wZrZuWAJGB_mYQraB&si=Igvwjz9UT5dbnx7T

Episode Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@AppraiseThePhraseClips

ABOUT APPRAISE THE PHRASE

Appraise The Phrase is a weekly podcast from the Underdog Podcast Network where the hosts unveil the origin, confirm the meaning, and assess the value of the everyday phrases and idioms we all use without ever asking where they came from. Each episode ends with a Power Grade and a round of the Dictionary of Misinformation, debunking a popular word-origin myth.

New episodes every week. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where did "bigger fish to fry" actually come from — and does it even hold up? We trace the idiom from Cervantes to a 1900s dime novel.

On this episode of Appraise The Phrase, Mario and Twenty unveil the origin, confirm the meaning, and assess the value of the idiom "bigger fish to fry." They start with Sancho Panza in Cervantes' Don Quixote (1605–1615), move through English diarist John Evelyn's 1660 journal entry ("I have other fish to fry" — not published until 1818, over a century after his death), and land on the early-20th-century American novel that's actually responsible for the "bigger" version we use today: Edward Stratemeyer's "True to Himself, or Roger Strong's Struggle for Place."

Along the way, they compare Merriam-Webster, Cambridge, and Collins definitions, debate whether the phrase is a personality trait or just a circumstance, and run through pop-culture parallels — the Andy Warhol diaries, Charles III's coronation echoing the English Restoration, Steve Jobs' return to Apple, and the Access Hollywood tape — before handing out a final Power Grade. Then it's on to the Dictionary of Misinformation, where they debunk the myth behind Cinderella's glass slipper (spoiler: it was never supposed to be glass).

If you're into word origins, etymology, idioms, and the stories behind the phrases we use without thinking, this one's for you.

0:00 – Independence Day (1996)

0;47 - Appraise The Phrase Theme

2:43 – Movie Talk: The Odyssey & The Return

6:32 – Introducing Today's Phrase: "Bigger Fish to Fry"

Confirm The Meaning

9:22 – Dictionary Showdown: Merriam-Webster vs. Cambridge vs. Collins

Unveil The Origin

17:41 – Origins in Cervantes' Don Quixote & Sancho Panza

26:53 – 1660: John Evelyn's Diary & the First "Fish" Version

30:23 – The English Restoration & the Royal Society

40:12 – How "Bigger" Entered the Phrase (Stratemeyer's Novel)

Story Time

19:30 – Personal Reflection: Our Own Verbal Tics

31:18 – Pop Culture Parallels: Warhol, Charles III, Steve Jobs, Access Hollywood

42:40 – Personal Reflection: Suspicion, Priorities & Growing Up

Assess The Value

46:39 – Phrase Grades: Rating "Bigger Fish to Fry"

Dictionary of Misinformation

51:32 – Cinderella's Glass Slipper

53:49 – Outro & Shop

LINKS

Subscribe to Appraise The Phrase on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnderdog

Appraise The Phrase official site: appraisethephrase.com

ATP Shop — mugs & merch: appraisethephrase.com/shop

Check out our other ATP produced shows: appraisethephrase.com/community

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4jLFx2WLEslKF3BHWWvIlv?si=367e5762bdb9464a

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/appraise-the-phrase/id1570186367

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theappraisethephraseshow

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@appraisethephrase

Follow us on X/Twitter: https://x.com/TheATPShow

Previous Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmMMLmEcgaa3C1d_wZrZuWAJGB_mYQraB&si=Igvwjz9UT5dbnx7T

Episode Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@AppraiseThePhraseClips

ABOUT APPRAISE THE PHRASE

Appraise The Phrase is a weekly podcast from the Underdog Podcast Network where the hosts unveil the origin, confirm the meaning, and assess the value of the everyday phrases and idioms we all use without ever asking where they came from. Each episode ends with a Power Grade and a round of the Dictionary of Misinformation, debunking a popular word-origin myth.

New episodes every week. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next one.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Mario and Twenty delve into the origins and meanings of everyday expressions, particularly focusing on the phrase 'calling a spade a spade.' They explore its historical context, cultural significance, and the nuances of truth and bluntness in communication.

As the episode continues, Mario and Twenty expose the complexities of language, accountability, and the implications of phrases like 'call a spade a spade.' They explore the historical context and mistranslation of the term, its racial connotations, and the importance of reclaiming language.

Appraise The Phrase emphasizes the power of words and the responsibility that comes with using them, ultimately leading to a reflection on how language shapes our understanding of truth and accountability.

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnderdog

00:00 Bill Burr And Black Dynamite: Calling A Spade A Spade

00:30 The ATP Intro Theme

01:01 Breaking Bread GOAT Phrase Champ Review

05:36 That's All I Have To Say About Calling A Spade A Spade

08:33 Confirm The Meaning: Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam Webster's, Dictionary.com definitions

11:47 Unveil The Origin: Greek of Plutarch's Apophthegmata

16:09 Unveil The Origin: The World Plutarch Wrote In: The Second Sophistic Sparta

20:33 Storytime: The nostalgia gap: What past era do we idolize today, that we actually would have a tough time surviving a week living in?

26:47 Unveil The Origin: The Common Misconception of The Call A Spade A Spade Passage

27:30 Unveil The Origin: Philip II of Macedon (Alexander The Great's Father)

30:56 Storytime: Will Smith's Oscars Slap - The Internet Called It An Assault In Real Time. Which Side Were You On?

36:19 Unveil The Origin: The Mistranslation That Gave Us Call A Spade A Spade

39:42 Unveil The Origin: Is It Racist To Call A Spade A Spade?

49:11 Storytime: Will You Stop Using The Word Spade?

51:02 Appraise The Phrase: Phrase Grades For Calling A Spade A Spade

55:25 The Dictionary of Misinformation: Samson and Delilah

Follow Appraise The Phrase:

Official Site: ➡️ https://appraisethephrase.com/

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In this episode of the Appraise The Phrase Show, Mario and 20 welcome the Expression Appraisal Team to discuss the GOAT Phrase Tournament. The conversation covers the structure of the tournament, the significance of the phrases, and the cultural implications behind them. The hosts share personal anecdotes and insights, making the discussion both entertaining and informative. Myron, D Lee, Fave, and Kristy Love take on the Tournament Challenge format that includr strategy, pop culture, history, and linguistic puzzles. They delve into the significance of timing in business and negotiation, the impact of pop culture on language, and the importance of teamwork in achieving success. The discussion culminates in a trivia showdown that tests their knowledge of idioms and phrases, highlighting the interplay between language and culture.

The Final Four are:

(1) Breaking Bread

(10) Strike While The Iron Is Hot

(11) Push The Envelope

(12) The Jury Is Still Out

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnderdog

00:00 The Final Four GOAT Phrase of 2025 ft. Deon Cole & Kevin Hart

01:21 The Appraise The Phrase Show

1:52 Introduction to the GOAT Tournament

07:13 Reviewing the Tournament Structure

13:49 Matchup Analysis: Breaking Bread vs. The Jury is Still Out

31:11 Matchup Analysis: Strike While the Iron is Hot vs. Push the Envelope

40:41 The Energy of Strategy

43:41 Pop Culture and Its Impact

48:10 Reviving Old Phrases

53:00 Breaking Bread vs. Best Foot Forward

01:07:30 Final Showdown: Strategy and History Trivia

Follow Appraise The Phrase:

Official Site: ➡️ https://appraisethephrase.com/

ATP YouTube: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@producedbyappraisethephrase (Shorts and exclusive clips)

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In this final episode of the season, Mario Hines, Twenty, Fave, and Myron explore the origins and meanings of the 13 phrases from Appraise The Phrase Season 5 in preparation for the 5th Annual GOAT Phrase Tournament. They reflect on the significance of phrases like 'when push comes to shove', 'two wrongs don't make a right', and 'the world is your oyster', discussing their cultural implications and personal connections. The conversation highlights the evolution of language and the importance of understanding the roots of our expressions, culminating in a celebration of the power of words in communication. In this engaging conversation, the speakers explore the evolution of language and the meanings behind various phrases.

They discuss the importance of accountability in communication, particularly through the lens of the phrase 'practice what you preach.' The conversation is filled with humor and cultural references, highlighting how language reflects societal values. As they wrap up, they share predictions for the future of language and the significance of community in shaping expressions.

And, finally, they reveal the GOAT Phrase rankings, matchups, and make some surprise picks.

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnderdog

0:00 Lisa On Ice: Head to Head Matchups In The Simpsons

0:45 The ATP Show Intro Theme

1:14 The Finale Is Crazy!

2:30 The Expression Appraisal Team Check In: Fave & Ms. Megabyte + Myron Happy To Be Almost Done

6:11 Season 5 Phrase Recap

7:28 When Push Comes to Shove

9:50 The Jury Is Still Out

12:27 Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right

13:23 The World is Your Oyster

17:02 Leave No Stone Unturned

19:23 Put Your Best Foot Forward

21:46 Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks

24:13 Better Safe Than Sorry

28:45 Breaking Bread

30:54 Rob Peter To Pay Paul

32:12 Push The Envelope

36:55 Strike While The Iron's Hot

42:47 Practice What You Preach

46:56 Phrase Rankings Revealed!

48:07 Phrase Tournament Predictions + Phrase Saves

54:56 Season 5 Close Out: See You in 2026!

Follow Appraise The Phrase:

Official Site: ➡️ https://appraisethephrase.com/

ATP YouTube: ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClhOT41ItFBzpXanbzfT0oQ (Shorts and exclusive clips)

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