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Straight from the Llama's Mouth

The Curious Origins and Clever Meanings of Idioms and Phrases (Seriously Though)

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Straight from the Llama's Mouth

By: Eddie Watts
Narrated by: JD Hart
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About this listen

The English language is packed with strange expressions we use every day—but have you ever wondered where they come from?

From “buttering someone up” to “burning the candle at both ends,” idioms are woven into our conversations… yet we rarely pause to think about what they really mean or where they originated.

This fun and fascinating collection reveals the quirky stories behind the phrases we take for granted. Discover where (and when) these idioms first appeared, how they evolved, and what they really meant in their original context.

Grouped by theme, this book is perfect for curious minds and language lovers alike. You’ll uncover:

•The competition where the prize was literally cake

•The truth behind bulls in China shops

•Why “saved by the bell” has nothing to do with boxing

•How Shakespeare helped shape the way we speak

•And… what llamas have to do with any of this

Whether you’re looking to impress at parties, sharpen your trivia skills, or simply enjoy a clever and quirky listen, Straight from the Llama’s Mouth is your perfect companion.

©2025 Seriously Though Books (P)2025 Seriously Though Books
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Listener received this title free

I had such a good time with this! It’s one of those books that makes you smile and say, “Wait, that’s where that comes from?” The explanations are clever and easy to follow, and the tone keeps it light and entertaining. Perfect for language lovers or anyone who enjoys fun facts you’ll want to share with friends.







fun, quirky, and super interesting

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Listener received this title free

If you love language or just want to learn something new, this is a fun pick. I grabbed this book out of pure curiosity and ended up hooked. It’s packed with funny stories and surprising facts about phrases I use all the time but never really thought about. Listening made me laugh and gave me plenty of trivia to share with friends. The way everything’s organized by theme made it easy to pick up whenever I had a few minutes.

Idioms Finally Make Sense!

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Listener received this title free

I grabbed this on a whim and ended up reading it cover to cover. It’s packed with weird, funny, and surprisingly useful explanations for stuff we say every day. I’ve already annoyed my friends with “did you know?” facts, but they’re into it too! The writing is casual and entertaining without trying too hard. It’s like trivia night meets language class, but the cool version. If you like useless knowledge that’s secretly useful, you’ll love this.

The Wisdom Hits Different Now

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Listener received this title free

The English language has always fascinated me. What we say and why we say it as well as the evolution of the language. All the popular sayings and idioms we have developed are ingrained in us. Listening through the book I had such a fun time discovering where these came from. The chapters all have cool and unique themes and they are packed full of these phrases. JD Hart’s narration is perfect for the style of audiobook and kept me listening for more. If you have an interest in the meanings of these classic idioms and phrases then you’ll love giving this a go!

Interesting and extremely fun!

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Listener received this title free

This audiobook digs into a bunch of common phrases people use and unpacks their weird, often hilarious, origins. It’s the kind of listen that makes you go, “Wait, THAT’S where that came from?” more times than you’d expect.

The idioms are grouped into themes, which helps keep things organized and makes it easy to follow along, especially if you’re the type who listens in short bursts. It’s also packed with cool historical tidbits (turns out Shakespeare really did shape how we speak) and some surprising stories behind sayings we don’t think twice about. There’s even some myth-busting, which keeps things interesting.

This is a great audiobook for trivia buffs, language nerds, or anyone who just enjoys knowing random but genuinely interesting stuff. It's fun, informative, and really enjoyable to listen to. Make a good listen for travelling or rides too.

Dig into the origin of idioms

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