We use these hackneyed expressions all the time (hence the hackneyed element), but where do they come from? I’m reviving the Weekend Word Wrap feature from years ago to take a look at a couple each week or so. First up, The Real McCoy. The Real McCoy Our version is actually a variation of the original Scottish phrase dating back to the mid 19th century, “A drappie o’ the real MacKay" What’s interesting here is that the ay in MacKay is actually pronounced like “eye.” But what about the real... READ ON

With all the dozens and dozens of Word Wrap posts, I'm flabbergasted that we've never covered menu typos—something that seems like such an obvious topic for a site like this. Of course, the best menu typos can be found in Greece, where lamb is misspelled all over the country as lamp. If you've ever been, then you know it's like striking gold: you get the best food in the world, and have the most fun ordering it. Closer to home, there's a Mexican joint near me... READ ON

It's been a while since I posted a Word Wrap. We've had so many talented guest wordies on the blog, I thought I wouldn't crowd their space. But it feels good to bring it back, especially with the below interview I recently did with author and translator, Stefano Bertoussi. Stefano lives in Milan and, as you'll hear in the interview, has made a name for himself translating big American writers into Italian. Among others, Stefano has translated James Ellroy, Madison Smartt... READ ON

I guess I've been a little obsessed with word puns here in the Wrap. We've covered punny names, punny store names, punny e-mail addresses, homophonic puns, Paging Doctor puns, and, of course, the hugely popular Tom Swifty puns. mental_floss's own Kara Kovalchik has a thing for puns, too, and after the success of our Tom Swifty contest, she suggested we run another punny contest, this time casting a wider net and opening it up to all and any word play. So I present you with... READ ON