Why Do We Say That?

I’ll admit: I approached *Why Do We Say That?* expecting a cute but forgettable romp through idioms. Instead, I found myself paused mid-laundry, rewinding to hear how “the whole nine yards” might (or might not) tie to WWII fighter pilots. That’s the magic of this audiobook—it makes you *care* about the mundane. Matthews doesn’t just list origins; he frames them as mini-mysteries, often debunking myths (looking at you, “rule of thumb”) with a historian’s rigor and a comedian’s timing. Grant-Grierson’s performance is a standout. She avoids the sing-songy trap of many children’s narrators, opting instead for a conversational rhythm that feels like a favorite aunt sharing secrets. Her pacing is impeccable, lingering on punchlines (like the gruesome truth behind “meat and greet”) but never over-explaining. My only critique? The sound design is *too* restrained. A few strategic sound effects—say, a cannon blast for “bite the bullet”—could’ve elevated the already lively narration. And while the book skews younger, adults might crave deeper dives into some phrases’ cultural evolution. Still, as a gateway to linguistic wonder, it’s flawlessly executed. I’ve already foisted it on three friends who “don’t even like audiobooks.” They’re hooked.