Why do we call it jaywalking — and what does it have to do with birds, cities, and public shaming? In this episode, Gareth and Dex explore the surprising origin of the word jaywalking and how it emerged in early American road culture when cars first began to dominate the streets.
Discover how the term “jay” was once slang for a naive country person, how the phrase was deliberately used as a mocking label, and how language helped improve road safety. Along the way, we also touch on American vs British road terms and a bit of comedy inspiration too.
If you enjoy word origins, phrase history, and the hidden stories behind everyday language, this one’s for you.
Like, subscribe, and share your favourite phrases for a future episode.
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Names are Tia & Cheveyo
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