

Paul Anthony Jones
Joined: Jun 20, 2014
Paul Anthony Jones is a writer and musician from Newcastle upon Tyne. He is the author of word origins guide Haggard Hawks and Paltry Poltroons, and runs its tie-in Twitter account @HaggardHawks.




From "across the board" to "hedge your bets," these phrases have their roots in blackjack, horse racing, and more.
These brave animals earned medals and recognition for their heroic actions on the battlefield and beyond.
The origins of the animal-inspired idiom.
Juliana the Great Dane received not one but two Blue Cross Medals for different heroic acts, yet her story was almost forgotten entirely.
Ever wondered why a secret advantage is called an "ace in the hole"? Discover the 19th-century poker origins behind this iconic idiom.
Tim Burton's favorite movies include 'The Wicker Man' as well as a stop-motion classic and a 'Dracula' adaptation that received terrible reviews.
From monkeys to ferrets, people kept all kinds of surprising pets in the Middle Ages.
We can all thank the renowned playwright for livening up our vocabulary into the 21st century!
These common words and phrases came directly from the era of flapper fashion and short-lived prohibition.
Why is purple associated with royalty? The answer dates back thousands of years to an incredibly expensive dye made from sea snails.
Believe it or not, these jobs from the Middle Ages still exist in 2026.
The childhood nickname had a surprisingly simple origin.