This Map Shows the Literal Translations of U.S. Place Names
From California to Boston, here are the literal translations of every American state and capital city name.
From California to Boston, here are the literal translations of every American state and capital city name.
Pigs were involved in piggyback rides lexically much more than literally.
From fold to flambé, here are the culinary terms every home cook should know.
From ‘Cholmondeley’ to ‘Wriothesley,’ here's how to pronounce Britain's least intuitive last names.
The totally tubular TMNT catchphrase didn’t actually start with Michelangelo and the gang. In fact, “cowabunga” originated from a different kids show altogether.
The dismissive gesture is a 1990s original thanks to two very different sitcom stars.
The term is often applied to everything from Etsy shops to trendy businesses. But what does ‘cottage industry’ really mean?
Pi Day offers something for the math-lover and baked-goods lover. What about the word lover? Here are some tips and tricks for memorizing the digits of pi with words.
Dive into the philosophical questions that prompted René Descartes to come up with his famous phrase, “I think therefore I am.”
English speakers may be familiar with onomatopoeias, but they’re only a very small subset of ideophones, a broader word class can also convey other sensory experiences unrelated to sound. These Korean ideophones are sure to make your language sparkle.
You can always avoid the issue by spelling out “St. Patrick’s Day,” but here’s how to properly abbreviate it.
The popular piece of workout gear has a pretty insulting name, and it's all thanks to a poet and scholar.
Creating generation names like the Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z isn't always a straightforward process.
Curious about 1950s slang? Learn about beatniks, backseat bingo, and other popular terms that captured the spirit of the era.
When a minister and law student met a little girl named Alice, he became determined to help her communicate with the world.
Uncover why people yell “Geronimo!” when they jump—and what it has to do with a beer-fueled boast.
Some American slang is frickin' great. Others can be cringe. Real talk.
To English speakers, Irish is a tough language to master. But that doesn't mean you shouldn’t give it a try.
Pain don't hurt, but trying to understand the difference between remakes and reboots can.
Here’s everything you need to know about the meaning, origin, and evolution of the Irish word ‘craic.’
Explore the colorful world of slang terms for money, from ‘bacon’ to ‘moolah’ and beyond.
From ‘piece of cake’ to ‘the apple of my eye,’ these food-related phrases have fascinating histories.
Norway may not seem to have much in common with Texas, but when Norwegians want to express how wild and outrageous something is, they go straight for this state-based euphemism.
You may want to know the ghoulish beginnings of these well-known death idioms before you shuffle off this mortal coil, kick the bucket, or get laid out in lavender.