If you get an email called “Life in the 1500s,” hit delete! Grant explains that the etymology provided is not entirely accurate. That’s what this show is for. Also, if you’re getting an email that says “Free Money, Click Here,” you shouldn’t trust that either. That’s what jobs are for. Snopes.com has a good debunking of these linguistic urban legends. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Life in the 1500s”
Here’s a public service message to our listeners. If you get an email that says life in the 1500s and seems to explain how certain things came to be in English, like raining cats and dogs and a variety of other terms, just google it because I guarantee you it’s filled with fraudulent lies and you’re being misled.
This life in the 1500s email has been going around for years, 15 or 20 years. And there are versions that are a little more correct and there are versions that are a little less correct.
But frankly, if you’re getting your etymology in email, you’re doing it wrong. Get it on the radio. Get it on the radio.
