Paul Anthony Jones

Joined: Jun 20, 2014

Paul Anthony Jones is a writer and musician from Newcastle upon Tyne. He is the author of word origins guide Haggard Hawks and Paltry Poltroons, and runs its tie-in Twitter account @HaggardHawks.

Robert DeNiro in ‘Taxi Driver,’ Whoopi Goldberg in ‘The Color Purple,’ Anthony Perkins in ‘Psycho’

Speech bubbles with the words “dude” and “legit” in them.

A 2025 winner lands the No. 1 spot in the list of the longest speeches in Oscars history.

If you’ve been too embarrassed to ask the Gen Alpha kids in your life, here’s a rundown of what “skibidi” means and where it came from.

Two text bubble with the acronyms “SMH” and “ISTG”

In case you aren’t caught up with the latest—or most classic—online lingo, here are 20 internet acronyms explained.

An image of a person talking next to an image of a “winter weather ahead” sign

You’re far from the only one who does it, so why do we resort to weather when making small talk?

Do you swear you think back to your childhood when you smell a certain type of cookie? There’s a science behind the phenomenon.

TV presenter Tessniem Kadiri poses in an elevator

There are reasons beyond proving the opportunity to check your hair and outfit.

A speech bubble with the word “money” in it

You might be surprised to learn that many words have origins from ancient Greek and Roman mythological creatures. Here are 12 examples.

Have you ever noticed there’s a pin-sized hole in each coffee cup lid? There’s a reason for that.

Before we used the internet, these words meant something else entirely. Read on to learn the original meaning of 10 everyday internet terms.

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket in ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’

Most—if not all—of these films, such as ‘Scarface’ and ‘The Thing,’ are now considered classics.

These common myths continue to spread each winter.

These historical practices were once considered good for one’s health, shockingly.

Paul Anthony Jones

Joined: Jun 20, 2014

The Psychology Behind Why We Get Secondhand Embarrassment

15 Groundbreaking Films That Somehow Didn’t Win a Single Oscar

20 Slang Words and Phrases That Are Much Older Than You’d Think

Why Do We Call It a “Pair” of Pants?

10 of the Longest Speeches in Oscars History—A Recent Winner Tops the List

Okay, Fine, We’ll Explain it: Here’s What “Skibidi” Means

From “SYBAU” to “SMH,” Here’s What 20 Common Internet Acronyms Mean

The Psychology Behind Why We Discuss the Weather as Small Talk

Why Do Some Smells Trigger Memories?

Why Do Elevators (Almost Always) Have Mirrors?

15 Words Derived From Mythological Creatures—From “Money” to “Cereal”

Why Do To-Go Coffee Cup Lids Have That Tiny Hole?

The Unexpected History Behind 10 Everyday Internet Terms

10 Fantastic Movies That Critics Got Wrong—And Later Saw a Resurgence

10 Cold-Weather Misconceptions You’ve Probably Believed Your Whole Life

5 Dangerous Things That Were Once Considered Medicine—From Mummy Consumption to Milk Transfusions