Why Does ‘Spick-and-Span’ Mean ‘Really Clean’?
‘Spick’ doesn’t mean ‘clean.’ And ‘span’ doesn’t mean ‘clean.’ So what’s going on here?
‘Spick’ doesn’t mean ‘clean.’ And ‘span’ doesn’t mean ‘clean.’ So what’s going on here?
If you notice a truck driver flashing their lights, they're likely trying to communicate some important information about the road ahead.
It’s an issue so complicated that river length isn't even considered a useful measure anymore.
If you say “my pleasure” before your Chick-fil-A cashier has a chance to utter it, you won’t score free food.
Western culture has linked Easter with new threads for centuries.
The cost of gasoline at the pump is up across the United States, but no state appears to be feeling the sting more than California.
There are two main reasons: taxation and safety.
You can thank the cardboard industry.
Even the most well-respected dictionaries consider ‘mistrust’ and ‘distrust’ interchangeable. But people do tend to use them a little differently.
The original reason electrical plugs had holes isn’t the same reason they have holes these days.
Restaurant employees probably won’t make you wash dishes to settle the debt. Here’s what they might do instead.
The Oscars celebrating nominees named Oscar may sound silly, but it's happened more than you think.
It wouldn’t be a St. Patrick's Day celebration in the Windy City without the Chicago River sporting a (temporarily) emerald green tinge.
The smallest bone in your body is one of a set of three whose collective name literally means ‘small bones.’
Contrary to popular belief, plastic surgery’s name origin has nothing to do with breast implants being made of plastic.
The roughly three-minute limit dates back to the early 20th century—but the digital music landscape is affecting the custom.
How many steps it takes to walk a mile depends on your height and speed—but there is an average number.
Shampoo bottles tell you to 'rinse and repeat,' but washing hair twice in a row only makes sense for some people.
Fasten your seatbelts—this gas-vs.-diesel answer involves compression ratios, spark plugs, and torque vs. horsepower.
Busting out your best dance floor moves when you have to pee may actually prevent you from soiling yourself.
The next time someone hands you a paper bag to breathe into during a panic attack, you’ll know what to do—or what not to do.
Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Massachusetts are technically commonwealths, not states. Here's the meaning behind the term.
To get the willies is to feel a sudden onset of nervousness or skittishness. But why 'willie'? It may have something to do with itchy underwear.
A round cylinder of cheese can influence its taste and overall quality, but old-school grocers just wanted something they could roll on the ground.