animals
Answers are hidden until you reveal them.
Why are dogs' noses wet?
Our guess
It helps them smell, by dissolving scents, and possibly cools them down.
It helps them smell, by dissolving scents, and possibly cools them down.
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The answer
Moisture helps capture scent particles, and the wet nose also helps regulate body temperature.
Moisture helps capture scent particles, and the wet nose also helps regulate body temperature.
Verdict right
What is the difference between a llama and an alpaca?
Episode 6: Like a Chorizo (00:00)
Our guess
Closely related but different animals; alpacas live at higher altitude and are used for fur, llamas are pack animals.
Closely related but different animals; alpacas live at higher altitude and are used for fur, llamas are pack animals.
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The answer
Both are domesticated South American camelids. Llamas are bigger (up to about 400 lb) and bred as pack animals; alpacas are smaller (100-175 lb) and bred for fiber for about 6,000 years. Llamas have long banana-shaped ears, alpacas shorter spear-shaped ones. They can crossbreed, producing a huarizo.
Both are domesticated South American camelids. Llamas are bigger (up to about 400 lb) and bred as pack animals; alpacas are smaller (100-175 lb) and bred for fiber for about 6,000 years. Llamas have long banana-shaped ears, alpacas shorter spear-shaped ones. They can crossbreed, producing a huarizo.
Verdict right
What makes an animal domesticated?
Episode 6: Like a Chorizo (02:50)
Our guess
Being specifically bred for domestication, not just able to survive in the wild.
Being specifically bred for domestication, not just able to survive in the wild.
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No answer was established.
Verdict unresolved
What is the difference between a panther, a jaguar, a cougar and a mountain lion?
Our guess
Black cats vs. brown cats; the mountain lion is a puma, and the panther is a separate black cat.
Black cats vs. brown cats; the mountain lion is a puma, and the panther is a separate black cat.
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The answer
Cougar, puma, mountain lion and catamount are all the same animal. "Panther" is a loose term for leopards, jaguars or any black (melanistic) big cat. The four big cats in the genus Panthera are lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars; cheetahs are a separate genus. The lynx group includes four species, including the bobcat.
Cougar, puma, mountain lion and catamount are all the same animal. "Panther" is a loose term for leopards, jaguars or any black (melanistic) big cat. The four big cats in the genus Panthera are lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars; cheetahs are a separate genus. The lynx group includes four species, including the bobcat.
Verdict partly
Why do rabbits have little cotton-ball tails?
Episode 22: Too Cute To Kill (00:30)
Our guess
Not balance; more likely self-defense, such as confusing predators with the white flash or masking scent, or a vestigial leftover.
Not balance; more likely self-defense, such as confusing predators with the white flash or masking scent, or a vestigial leftover.
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The answer
A biologist's theory is that the white tail confuses predators during the chase: it disappears when the rabbit turns, forcing the predator to refocus. The research is not peer reviewed. Deer may also flick their tails to signal danger.
A biologist's theory is that the white tail confuses predators during the chase: it disappears when the rabbit turns, forcing the predator to refocus. The research is not peer reviewed. Deer may also flick their tails to signal danger.
Verdict right
Where does Groundhog Day come from?
Episode 26: Day of the Marmot (05:49)
Our guess
An old almanac-era custom from about 1800, with Punxsutawney claiming to be the original.
An old almanac-era custom from about 1800, with Punxsutawney claiming to be the original.
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The answer
Adopted in the US in 1887 when Punxsutawney's newspaper editor promoted the town's groundhog, from a Pennsylvania German custom rooted in European weather lore (a badger or bear) tied to Candlemas. A shadow means six more weeks of winter.
Adopted in the US in 1887 when Punxsutawney's newspaper editor promoted the town's groundhog, from a Pennsylvania German custom rooted in European weather lore (a badger or bear) tied to Candlemas. A shadow means six more weeks of winter.
Verdict right
Where does the phrase "let the cat out of the bag" come from?
Episode 39: Livestock Fraud Law (01:37)
Our guess
A dangerous large cat, such as a puma, kept in a sack by 19th-century frontiersmen.
A dangerous large cat, such as a puma, kept in a sack by 19th-century frontiersmen.
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The answer
The first documented use is in a 1760 London Magazine review. Leading theories are the Royal Navy's cat o' nine tails kept in a bag, or livestock fraud at market, where a cat was swapped for a pig in a bag (cf. "pig in a poke"). Neither is certain.
The first documented use is in a 1760 London Magazine review. Leading theories are the Royal Navy's cat o' nine tails kept in a bag, or livestock fraud at market, where a cat was swapped for a pig in a bag (cf. "pig in a poke"). Neither is certain.
Verdict wrong
Where does the phrase "cat got your tongue" come from?
Episode 42: Earmuffs (06:49)
Our guess
A hairball-like sound when you stumble over words, or lions in the Colosseum.
A hairball-like sound when you stumble over words, or lions in the Colosseum.
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The answer
Not settled. Theories include the cat o' nine tails silencing victims, ancient Egyptians feeding liars' tongues to cats, and a witch's cat stealing tongues. It first appears in print in an 1881 magazine.
Not settled. Theories include the cat o' nine tails silencing victims, ancient Egyptians feeding liars' tongues to cats, and a witch's cat stealing tongues. It first appears in print in an 1881 magazine.
Verdict unresolved
Why do zebras have stripes?
Episode 43: Zeal or Dazzle (00:34)
Our guess
Heat regulation, or confusing predators when the herd runs together.
Heat regulation, or confusing predators when the herd runs together.
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The answer
Unsettled. A newer UCLA study suggests the black stripes help zebras stay cool in the midday heat, while the long-standing consensus is camouflage or confusing predators, with little direct evidence. A group of zebras is called a zeal or a dazzle.
Unsettled. A newer UCLA study suggests the black stripes help zebras stay cool in the midday heat, while the long-standing consensus is camouflage or confusing predators, with little direct evidence. A group of zebras is called a zeal or a dazzle.
Verdict partly
Is a slug just a snail without a shell?
Our guess
They are closely related but distinct species, because snails grow their own shell and slugs never do.
They are closely related but distinct species, because snails grow their own shell and slugs never do.
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The answer
Both are gastropods in the phylum Mollusca, and slugs often have a small internal or vestigial shell. They are closely related but separate species, and land snails and slugs are the only gastropods living on land. Snails live 2 to 3 years in the wild and up to 15 in captivity.
Both are gastropods in the phylum Mollusca, and slugs often have a small internal or vestigial shell. They are closely related but separate species, and land snails and slugs are the only gastropods living on land. Snails live 2 to 3 years in the wild and up to 15 in captivity.
Verdict right
Where do coyotes and hyenas come from if dogs come from wolves?
Episode 67: Dogma (00:31)
Our guess
They're not descended from wolves or dogs; coyotes, wolves and perhaps hyenas share a common ancestor.
They're not descended from wolves or dogs; coyotes, wolves and perhaps hyenas share a common ancestor.
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The answer
The gray wolf and coyote are close relatives from a common ancestor and were not bred by humans. Hyenas are not canids at all; they are their own family and are more closely related to cats than to dogs.
The gray wolf and coyote are close relatives from a common ancestor and were not bred by humans. Hyenas are not canids at all; they are their own family and are more closely related to cats than to dogs.
Verdict right
Why do we yawn, and why does yawning make other people yawn?
Our guess
An oxygen grab by a tired body, with contagion as a social or empathy cue that alerts the group.
An oxygen grab by a tired body, with contagion as a social or empathy cue that alerts the group.
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The answer
There is no consensus on why we yawn (theories include respiration, cooling the brain and stretching tissue). Contagious yawning affects about 60% of healthy humans and is seen in chimps, dogs and others. It is linked to empathy and does not appear in children until around age four.
There is no consensus on why we yawn (theories include respiration, cooling the brain and stretching tissue). Contagious yawning affects about 60% of healthy humans and is seen in chimps, dogs and others. It is linked to empathy and does not appear in children until around age four.
Verdict partly
How does praying mantis reproduction work given that the female may eat the male?
Episode 80: Snack Sized (00:37)
Our guess
Large clutches of eggs, possibly skewed toward males, with cannibalism not happening every time.
Large clutches of eggs, possibly skewed toward males, with cannibalism not happening every time.
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The answer
Cannibalism occurs in about 25% of encounters and is mostly seen in captivity, driven largely by hunger. Cannibalistic females laid more eggs (about 88 vs. 37 in one study). An egg case hatches 100-200 mantises, of which only about a third reach maturity.
Cannibalism occurs in about 25% of encounters and is mostly seen in captivity, driven largely by hunger. Cannibalistic females laid more eggs (about 88 vs. 37 in one study). An egg case hatches 100-200 mantises, of which only about a third reach maturity.
Verdict right
If a poisonous snake bites you, should you suck out the venom?
Our guess
No, it doesn't help and wastes precious minutes; get to medical care, and a tourniquet is a better option.
No, it doesn't help and wastes precious minutes; get to medical care, and a tourniquet is a better option.
Reveal the answer
No answer was established.
Verdict unresolved
Where does the Easter Bunny come from?
Episode 87: Unholy Terror (01:05)
Our guess
A pagan spring fertility tradition (rabbits are very fertile), or a Hallmark and candy-industry invention.
A pagan spring fertility tradition (rabbits are very fertile), or a Hallmark and candy-industry invention.
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The answer
German immigrants brought the egg-laying hare "Osterhase" to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and the custom is first mentioned in a 1682 German text. The hare was a medieval symbol of fertility, and Bede linked Easter to a Saxon goddess, Eostre, though there's no firm evidence. Decorating eggs dates to at least the 13th century, since eggs were forbidden in Lent.
German immigrants brought the egg-laying hare "Osterhase" to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and the custom is first mentioned in a 1682 German text. The hare was a medieval symbol of fertility, and Bede linked Easter to a Saxon goddess, Eostre, though there's no firm evidence. Decorating eggs dates to at least the 13th century, since eggs were forbidden in Lent.
Verdict partly
Where does the phrase "straight from the horse's mouth" come from?
Episode 88: Long In the Tooth (00:36)
Our guess
A courier or Pony Express rider, or checking a horse's teeth and mouth for its condition.
A courier or Pony Express rider, or checking a horse's teeth and mouth for its condition.
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The answer
From examining a horse's teeth to judge its age and condition; the earliest print example found is from 1913 in horse racing, where the most trusted information came from the trainers. A related phrase, "don't look a gift horse in the mouth", goes back to St. Jerome around AD 400.
From examining a horse's teeth to judge its age and condition; the earliest print example found is from 1913 in horse racing, where the most trusted information came from the trainers. A related phrase, "don't look a gift horse in the mouth", goes back to St. Jerome around AD 400.
Verdict right
Why do flamingos stand on one leg?
Episode 89: Crop Milk (00:33)
Our guess
To save energy and ease circulation for their long legs and small heart, and to avoid both feet getting stuck.
To save energy and ease circulation for their long legs and small heart, and to avoid both feet getting stuck.
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The answer
A locking joint lets them stand on one leg with no muscle effort, and tucking a leg also reduces heat loss through their legs and feet. A study found they stand on one leg more in colder water. They are pink from carotenoids in algae and brine shrimp.
A locking joint lets them stand on one leg with no muscle effort, and tucking a leg also reduces heat loss through their legs and feet. A study found they stand on one leg more in colder water. They are pink from carotenoids in algae and brine shrimp.
Verdict right
Why isn't every animal an elephant, since they are big, smart and have no real predators?
Our guess
Resource limits and slow reproduction, ecosystem diversity, and humans hunting big animals.
Resource limits and slow reproduction, ecosystem diversity, and humans hunting big animals.
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The answer
No single answer. Elephants gestate for about two years and have one calf at a time, and their calorie demands cap population growth. Different species use different survival strategies (many offspring vs. few), and ecosystems depend on diversity. Humans are now the main predator of elephants.
No single answer. Elephants gestate for about two years and have one calf at a time, and their calorie demands cap population growth. Different species use different survival strategies (many offspring vs. few), and ecosystems depend on diversity. Humans are now the main predator of elephants.
Verdict unresolved
Where does the phrase "get your goat" come from?
Episode 102: Unkempt Lawn (01:40)
Our guess
Goats as valuable livestock or currency stolen or lost in a dispute, going back to ancient times, or Irish court law.
Goats as valuable livestock or currency stolen or lost in a dispute, going back to ancient times, or Irish court law.
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The answer
Possibly from horse racing: a goat was placed in a nervous racehorse's stall to calm it, and opponents would steal the goat to upset it. The first print appearances are early 1900s (one in 1904), and there's no concrete evidence; otherwise the origin is unknown.
Possibly from horse racing: a goat was placed in a nervous racehorse's stall to calm it, and opponents would steal the goat to upset it. The first print appearances are early 1900s (one in 1904), and there's no concrete evidence; otherwise the origin is unknown.
Verdict partly
Where does the phrase "souped up" come from?
Episode 103: Vegetable Bones (01:42)
Our guess
From "supered up" or superchargers (cars, 1920s-30s), or from making a boring soup tastier.
From "supered up" or superchargers (cars, 1920s-30s), or from making a boring soup tastier.
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The answer
From "soup" as slang for any substance injected into a racehorse to change its speed or temperament (Webster's 1911), including drugs and even nitroglycerin. It predates superchargers and was later applied to cars.
From "soup" as slang for any substance injected into a racehorse to change its speed or temperament (Webster's 1911), including drugs and even nitroglycerin. It predates superchargers and was later applied to cars.
Verdict wrong
Is the slur "cracker" from "cracker cows", and what is a cracker cow?
Episode 104: No Soul (00:34)
Our guess
Not from the cow: probably from the crack of a whip (slave drivers or cattle herders), or from salty crackers.
Not from the cow: probably from the crack of a whip (slave drivers or cattle herders), or from salty crackers.
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The answer
Cracker cows are real (Florida cracker cattle, a small breed from Spanish stock). The word "cracker" for poor frontier whites likely comes from "whip cracker" (cattle drivers), and it existed even in Shakespeare's time as a word for a boaster. In the 1940s it became an epithet for bigoted whites.
Cracker cows are real (Florida cracker cattle, a small breed from Spanish stock). The word "cracker" for poor frontier whites likely comes from "whip cracker" (cattle drivers), and it existed even in Shakespeare's time as a word for a boaster. In the 1940s it became an epithet for bigoted whites.
Verdict right
Where does the word "beeline" come from?
Our guess
A honeybee flying the most direct path back to the hive; one host suspected geometry (a bisecting line) or navigation.
A honeybee flying the most direct path back to the hive; one host suspected geometry (a bisecting line) or navigation.
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The answer
From the straight line a honeybee takes when returning to its hive. It appears in early 19th-century print (one example from 1808), and "bee lining" was used to locate wild bee colonies by trigonometry.
From the straight line a honeybee takes when returning to its hive. It appears in early 19th-century print (one example from 1808), and "bee lining" was used to locate wild bee colonies by trigonometry.
Verdict right
Why aren't humans furry?
Episode 108: Sexual Drift (01:19)
Our guess
Temperature control: sweating works better on bare skin, clothing replaced fur, big brains generate heat, and sexual selection or parasite control may have played a role.
Temperature control: sweating works better on bare skin, clothing replaced fur, big brains generate heat, and sexual selection or parasite control may have played a role.
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The answer
No universally accepted answer. Leading ideas: thermoregulation (humans have the most sweat glands of any primate, which works better without fur when chasing prey on the savanna), parasite control, an aquatic-ape theory, sexual selection, and a "naked love" hypothesis that hairlessness increased maternal care.
No universally accepted answer. Leading ideas: thermoregulation (humans have the most sweat glands of any primate, which works better without fur when chasing prey on the savanna), parasite control, an aquatic-ape theory, sexual selection, and a "naked love" hypothesis that hairlessness increased maternal care.
Verdict partly
Do fish actually drink water?
Our guess
They take in water through their mouths and gills, with saltwater fish handling salt differently from freshwater fish.
They take in water through their mouths and gills, with saltwater fish handling salt differently from freshwater fish.
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The answer
Saltwater fish do drink water, directing some of it into the digestive tract to keep hydrated, while freshwater fish absorb water through their skin and gills by osmosis and do not need to drink.
Saltwater fish do drink water, directing some of it into the digestive tract to keep hydrated, while freshwater fish absorb water through their skin and gills by osmosis and do not need to drink.
Verdict right
What is the difference between a buffalo and a bison?
Episode 120: Feeling Yammy (00:45)
Our guess
They are the same animal or very closely related, with different horns, humps and geography.
They are the same animal or very closely related, with different horns, humps and geography.
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The answer
They are different animals and not closely related. True buffalo (Cape and water buffalo) are native to Africa and Asia, while bison are native to North America; early European explorers mislabeled American bison as "buffalo". Britannica distinguishes them by the three H's: home, hump and horn.
They are different animals and not closely related. True buffalo (Cape and water buffalo) are native to Africa and Asia, while bison are native to North America; early European explorers mislabeled American bison as "buffalo". Britannica distinguishes them by the three H's: home, hump and horn.
Verdict wrong
Where does the phrase "raining cats and dogs" come from?
Episode 121: Sharknado Break (00:31)
Our guess
Cats and dogs fighting (chaos), animals washed off thatched roofs, or dead animals washed through medieval streets.
Cats and dogs fighting (chaos), animals washed off thatched roofs, or dead animals washed through medieval streets.
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The answer
The etymology is unknown. Theories include Norse mythology (dogs and wolves symbolized wind and storms), the Greek "katadoupe" (waterfall) or "kata doxa" (contrary to belief), and a false thatched-roof theory. Similar phrases appear in the 1650s ("dogs and polecats") and Jonathan Swift used it in 1738.
The etymology is unknown. Theories include Norse mythology (dogs and wolves symbolized wind and storms), the Greek "katadoupe" (waterfall) or "kata doxa" (contrary to belief), and a false thatched-roof theory. Similar phrases appear in the 1650s ("dogs and polecats") and Jonathan Swift used it in 1738.
Verdict unresolved
Where does the phrase "red herring" come from?
Our guess
A strong-smelling fish used to throw hunting dogs off the scent, or a way to swap in a cheaper fish in a market; 1800s detective novels.
A strong-smelling fish used to throw hunting dogs off the scent, or a way to swap in a cheaper fish in a market; 1800s detective novels.
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The answer
Smoked and cured herring turns red and smells pungent. The figurative meaning appears in a 1686 gentleman's magazine, which suggested dragging a red herring across a fox's trail to confuse hounds, and a 1697 horsemanship tract suggested dragging a cat or fox carcass to train horses.
Smoked and cured herring turns red and smells pungent. The figurative meaning appears in a 1686 gentleman's magazine, which suggested dragging a red herring across a fox's trail to confuse hounds, and a 1697 horsemanship tract suggested dragging a cat or fox carcass to train horses.
Verdict right
Where does the phrase "get your ducks in a row" come from?
Our guess
Ducklings lined up behind their mother, or ducks lined up for shooting, perhaps in Victorian England or horse racing.
Ducklings lined up behind their mother, or ducks lined up for shooting, perhaps in Victorian England or horse racing.
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The answer
No definitive origin. The earliest known reference is an 1889 issue of The Plain Dealer (Cleveland), long before Stephen King's The Stand (1978). Candidates include duckpin bowling, tin ducks in a shooting gallery, ducklings following their mother, and the pool term "duck" for an easy shot.
No definitive origin. The earliest known reference is an 1889 issue of The Plain Dealer (Cleveland), long before Stephen King's The Stand (1978). Candidates include duckpin bowling, tin ducks in a shooting gallery, ducklings following their mother, and the pool term "duck" for an easy shot.
Verdict partly
Why are Dalmatians firehouse dogs?
Our guess
Mascots that look good against the red truck, or smoke sniffers and alarm barkers, perhaps popularized by Disney.
Mascots that look good against the red truck, or smoke sniffers and alarm barkers, perhaps popularized by Disney.
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The answer
Dalmatians have a long history as carriage dogs that were good with horses. FDNY used them from the 1870s to run beside the horse-drawn engines, clear the way, and calm the horses near fires. The breed is named for Dalmatia (first written mention 1374).
Dalmatians have a long history as carriage dogs that were good with horses. FDNY used them from the 1870s to run beside the horse-drawn engines, clear the way, and calm the horses near fires. The breed is named for Dalmatia (first written mention 1374).
Verdict partly
Why do mosquitoes exist, and should we kill them all?
Our guess
They're food for birds, bats and fish and part of the food chain; gene editing might reduce disease carriers.
They're food for birds, bats and fish and part of the food chain; gene editing might reduce disease carriers.
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The answer
Mosquito larvae feed fish and adults feed birds, bats and frogs, and males pollinate plants. Of about 3,500 species, only about 400 transmit diseases. Researchers are using CRISPR to make mosquitoes incapable of carrying disease or infertile instead of eradicating them.
Mosquito larvae feed fish and adults feed birds, bats and frogs, and males pollinate plants. Of about 3,500 species, only about 400 transmit diseases. Researchers are using CRISPR to make mosquitoes incapable of carrying disease or infertile instead of eradicating them.
Verdict right
Where does the phrase "sick as a dog" come from?
Episode 170: Money Talks (01:19)
Our guess
Dogs vomit a lot, or dogs on ships were seasick; from the 1500s-1600s, possibly Shakespeare or Rome.
Dogs vomit a lot, or dogs on ships were seasick; from the 1500s-1600s, possibly Shakespeare or Rome.
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The answer
Dogs were considered an undesirable animal in 17th-century England and many phrases used them negatively ("dog tired", "dirty dog"). "Sick as a dog" refers to vomiting, with the earliest literary use in 1705 (some find 1592).
Dogs were considered an undesirable animal in 17th-century England and many phrases used them negatively ("dog tired", "dirty dog"). "Sick as a dog" refers to vomiting, with the earliest literary use in 1705 (some find 1592).
Verdict right
Where does the phrase "at the end of my rope" come from?
Our guess
A climber, a hanging, a nautical rope or a cowboy's lasso running out, from the 1600s-1800s.
A climber, a hanging, a nautical rope or a cowboy's lasso running out, from the 1600s-1800s.
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The answer
It alludes to a tether, a rope tied to an animal to keep it from wandering, so at the end of its tether it has run out of options. It has been used since the late 1600s, and "at the end of one's tether" is the primarily British version.
It alludes to a tether, a rope tied to an animal to keep it from wandering, so at the end of its tether it has run out of options. It has been used since the late 1600s, and "at the end of one's tether" is the primarily British version.
Verdict partly
Where does the phrase "stuck in my craw" come from?
Episode 175: Rhymes with Jaw (01:07)
Our guess
Something stuck in your mouth or teeth, from rural 1800s America or animal husbandry.
Something stuck in your mouth or teeth, from rural 1800s America or animal husbandry.
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The answer
A craw is the crop, a bird's preliminary stomach, where grit and stones help grind food. Stones too big to pass would literally get stuck there. The earliest known citation is an 1878 book (Old Times in Tennessee).
A craw is the crop, a bird's preliminary stomach, where grit and stones help grind food. Stones too big to pass would literally get stuck there. The earliest known citation is an 1878 book (Old Times in Tennessee).
Verdict partly
What is the difference between a groundhog and a woodchuck?
Episode 182: Whistle Pig (01:06)
Our guess
They are the same animal, or perhaps regional variations, with groundhogs different from prairie dogs.
They are the same animal, or perhaps regional variations, with groundhogs different from prairie dogs.
Reveal the answer
The answer
There is no difference: they are the same animal (Marmota monax, a marmot). "Woodchuck" comes from the Algonquian word "wuchak" and has nothing to do with chucking wood. Groundhog Day was brought by German settlers in Pennsylvania, who used hedgehogs in Germany.
There is no difference: they are the same animal (Marmota monax, a marmot). "Woodchuck" comes from the Algonquian word "wuchak" and has nothing to do with chucking wood. Groundhog Day was brought by German settlers in Pennsylvania, who used hedgehogs in Germany.
Verdict right
Why do dogs wag their tails?
Our guess
Nonverbal communication, plus balance, temperature regulation, hygiene or swimming (rudder).
Nonverbal communication, plus balance, temperature regulation, hygiene or swimming (rudder).
Reveal the answer
The answer
Mainly communication of excitement and mood, and tails also help with balance, temperature regulation (blood vessels) and swimming. A 2013 Current Biology study found dogs wag more to the right when relaxed or happy and more to the left when stressed or anxious.
Mainly communication of excitement and mood, and tails also help with balance, temperature regulation (blood vessels) and swimming. A 2013 Current Biology study found dogs wag more to the right when relaxed or happy and more to the left when stressed or anxious.
Verdict right
Where does 'crazy as a loon' come from, and is 'loony' related to 'lunatic'?
Episode 192: Lake Pirates (02:03)
Our guess
Loony comes from the bird, separate from lunatic (Joey: lunatic is much older, Greek or Roman, plus Shakespeare)
Loony comes from the bird, separate from lunatic (Joey: lunatic is much older, Greek or Roman, plus Shakespeare)
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The answer
Loon the bird comes from a Scandinavian word and appeared in English in the 1600s; 'loon' meaning a fool is from Middle English 'loun'. 'Lunatic' is from Latin luna (moon), and 'loony' derives from lunatic, though Merriam-Webster says 'crazy as a loon' influenced it.
Loon the bird comes from a Scandinavian word and appeared in English in the 1600s; 'loon' meaning a fool is from Middle English 'loun'. 'Lunatic' is from Latin luna (moon), and 'loony' derives from lunatic, though Merriam-Webster says 'crazy as a loon' influenced it.
Verdict partly
Why do we say 'there's more than one way to skin a cat'?
Episode 197: Have Some Jaguar (00:30)
Our guess
Big-game hunting of large cats (Hemingway, colonial era or the Romans)
Big-game hunting of large cats (Hemingway, colonial era or the Romans)
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The answer
No clear reason. Earliest print is Seba Smith in 1840 and Mark Twain popularized it in 1889; it may descend from 'more ways to kill a dog than hanging' (1678). One theory is domestic cat fur as a cheap substitute for pine marten; it was also a playground gymnastics move.
No clear reason. Earliest print is Seba Smith in 1840 and Mark Twain popularized it in 1889; it may descend from 'more ways to kill a dog than hanging' (1678). One theory is domestic cat fur as a cheap substitute for pine marten; it was also a playground gymnastics move.
Verdict wrong
Is a buzzard the same as a vulture, and what is a condor?
Episode 200: Eat. Prey. Love. (00:33)
Our guess
Buzzards are smaller, browner and different from vultures; condors are just very big vultures
Buzzards are smaller, browner and different from vultures; condors are just very big vultures
Reveal the answer
The answer
In the US, buzzards are hawk-like raptors that hunt live prey while vultures eat carrion; in the UK 'buzzard' is a hawk and vultures are sometimes also called buzzards. Every condor is a vulture; the Andean condor is the largest vulture species.
In the US, buzzards are hawk-like raptors that hunt live prey while vultures eat carrion; in the UK 'buzzard' is a hawk and vultures are sometimes also called buzzards. Every condor is a vulture; the Andean condor is the largest vulture species.
Verdict right
Where does 'I'm going to see a man about a horse' come from?
Our guess
A polite euphemism for going to pee, from 'piss like a racehorse'; British, late 1800s
A polite euphemism for going to pee, from 'piss like a racehorse'; British, late 1800s
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The answer
An excuse to leave discreetly, often for a drink; earliest confirmed print is an 1866 play (Flying Scud, 'a man about a dog'). 'Piss like a racehorse' is much later (1982), though it may have revived the phrase.
An excuse to leave discreetly, often for a drink; earliest confirmed print is an 1866 play (Flying Scud, 'a man about a dog'). 'Piss like a racehorse' is much later (1982), though it may have revived the phrase.
Verdict partly