Big Questions Answered, How and Why

The tradition of giving misbehaving children lumps of coal predates the Santa Claus we know and love today.

Don't worry: It's not because sirens hurt dogs’ sensitive ears.

The literal meaning of ‘sic’ is ‘so’ or ‘thus.’ But the way writers use it is a little more nuanced.

Doesn't the traffic light itself already cover this?

The meaning of the “wait for green” traffic sign is less redundant than it seems.

Olive Garden makes good on its promise of unlimited breadsticks, but the deal does come with some unpublicized caveats.

(It might have something to do with sick days.)

The day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, has a rather sinister label: Black Friday. How did that happen?

The Guinness World Record holder for longest song ever is based on a 16th-century Indian poem.

Holiday tipping can be a little complicated.

You can, but the USPS actually prefers that you don’t. Here’s why.

Before you talk turkey this Thanksgiving, find out what we know about the phrase’s meaning and origins.

Those frilly paper caps on your turkey's legs have been called “turkey frills,” “turkey booties,” and even “turkey panties.” Here’s where they came from.

Dropping that ‘t’ sound is an example of what linguists call glottalization, or replacing a sound with a pause in the vocal cords.

Solariums are nostalgic for many customers, but Wendy's thinks they’re dated.

There’s no doubt about it—rotting food is gross.

The word ‘gross,’ which came to English from French, took on a variety of senses in English related to size. But the ‘gross of today is different from the ‘gross’ of the past thanks to teens.

Ever wondered if yams and sweet potatoes are the same thing? Read this before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner.

The face that launched a thousand memes.

The word predates social media.

There are a few reasons—including a little something to do with the horse and buggy. Find out more about the history of Election Day.

The "Ty" on the iconic heart-shaped Beanie Babies tag isn't an abbreviation. It's the name of the toy brand and its notorious founder.

Some male lions simply don’t have manes. What’s up with that?

Climate can cause a big difference in how much hair a lion grows.

Pigeons aren’t known to be particularly talkative birds.

The ‘tow’ in ‘towhead’ doesn't refer to transporting a vehicle with a flat tire.

The origin of ‘towhead’ has roots in 14th-century England, when ‘tow’ often referred to textile fibers.

Cleaning a porta potty is no walk in the park.

To keep porta potties (relatively) clean, sanitation workers require special equipment and a strong stomach.

When it comes to superstitions about bad luck, indoor umbrellas are right up there with broken mirrors and black cats.

Getting a concept onto the big screen is a difficult process, and the pilot episode is what can make—or, more often, break—a series. By why is it called that?

Modern office machines are made to fit a certain size of paper.

The letter-sized standard actually has roots in the 1660s, when paper was made by hand—and Herbert Hoover had something to do with it, too.

BIG QUESTIONS

Why Does Santa Claus Give Coal to Bad Kids?

Why Do Dogs Howl at Sirens?

What ‘Sic’ Means—And How To Use It Correctly

What’s the Point of a “Wait for Green” Traffic Sign?

The Truth About Olive Garden’s “Unlimited“ Breadsticks Deal

How Did Black Friday Get Its Name?

What Is the Longest Song Ever Recorded?

Should You Tip Your Mail Carrier During the Holidays?

What Does the Phrase ‘Talk Turkey’ Mean—And Where Did it Come From?

Why Is My Turkey Wearing Frilly Paper Hats On Its Legs?

T-Glottalization: The Reason Some People Drop Their ‘T’s When Speaking

Why Wendy’s Quietly Got Rid of Its Elegant Sunrooms

How Did ‘Gross’ Become a Term of Disgust?

What’s the Difference Between Yams and Sweet Potatoes?

Where Does the Word ’Meme’ Come From?

Why Are Elections Held on Tuesdays?

What Does the ‘Ty’ on Beanie Babies Tags Mean?

Why Do Some Male Lions Lack Manes?

Why Is an Informant Called a ‘Stool Pigeon‘?

Why Do We Call Blonde Kids ‘Towheads’?

How Are Porta Potties Cleaned?

Why Is Opening an Umbrella Indoors Supposed to Be Bad Luck?

Why Is the First Episode of a TV Show Called a ‘Pilot’?

The Reason Why a Standard Piece of Paper Is 8.5 Inches by 11 Inches