LANGUAGE

11 Greek Expressions You Should Know

Greek language employs many sharp, oddly entertaining expressions and phrases, from "black and spidery" to "I ate a door."

11 Element Names Inspired by Folklore and Mythology

From promethium to thorium, the periodic table is full of elements with strong ties to mythology and folklore.

40 Grandiloquent G-Words To Grow Your Vocabulary

These words will leave you looking like a grinagog who's found his guttering-peg.

Why Do Auctioneers Talk So Fast?

The high-speed patter of the auctioneer is called 'the chant,' and it's designed to separate bidders from their money.

40 Fantastic F-Words To Further Your Vocabulary

Keep these F-words in mind if you're flexiloquent.

Jockey Karis Teetan and Romantic Warrior about to win a race at the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong in April 2022.

12 Everyday Phrases You Didn’t Know Came From Horse Racing

The wire in ‘down to the wire’ was originally found on a horse racetrack—and ‘home stretch’ didn’t come from baseball.

How many of these words have you seen in the dictionary?

25 Words You Didn't Know Were in the Dictionary

Yes, there's a specific word for a treatise on a beard.

40 Excellent E-Words To Enlarge Your Vocabulary

When someone stops what they’re saying to go back and change a word to an even stronger one (as in, “I’m very happy—no, ecstatic to be here”), that’s called "epanorthosis."

How many of these Canadian slang terms do you know?

12 Canadian Slang Terms, Explained

Here's a primer on speaking like a Canuck.

Stink vs. Stank vs. Stunk: What's the Difference, and When Should I Use Each One?

When does something stink, when did you believe something stank, and when might it have stunk?

Nolan Ryan was famous for his high cheese that often turned into some uncomfortable chin music for batters.

17 Baseball Slang Terms You Should Know

How’s your hose? If the question is confusing—or sounds like someone is trying to sell you gardening equipment—you might not be up on your baseball slang. “Ever

40 Dandy D-Words To Deepen Your Vocabulary

D is one of the most frequently used letters in the alphabet. Consider adding some of these delicious D words to your vocabulary.

14 Chicago Slang Terms You Should Know

Admitting you don’t know the meaning behind any of Chicago’s long-standing slang terms is akin to slathering your hot dog with ketchup.

40 Clever Words That Begin With the Letter 'C'

C is for cacafuego.

How Do You Pronounce 'Caramel'?

Whether you say 'car-mel' or 'car-a-mel', your pronunciation of 'caramel' is technically correct.

15 Funky 1970s Slang Terms

If you’re up to speed on the tubular ‘80s slang and the wicked vernacular of the ‘90s, check out some slang terms and phrases that made the ‘70s groovy.

25 Fancy Medical Terms for Mundane Problems

It might not be a big deal, but you can make it sound like one.

Some office buzzwords can be unbearable for employees.

'110 Percent': The 10 Most Hated Business Buzzwords and Jargon

If you’ve ever tried to give “110 percent” to a task, chances are you’ve worked in an office where people tend to use a lot of corporate jargon.

It's Chick-fil-A's pleasure to serve you.

Why Do Chick-fil-A Employees Say “My Pleasure” Instead of “You’re Welcome”?

If you say “my pleasure” before your Chick-fil-A cashier has a chance to utter it, you won’t score free food.

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11 Obscure Expressions of Surprise We Should Bring Back

If you’re easily startled or just need some alternatives to “By the hammer of Thor!” and “Damn!,” read on for some old-timey outbursts.

20 Strategic Opening Words to Use in Wordle

If your Wordle game is feeling stale, these math-backed opening words could give the momentum you need.

Mistrust vs. Distrust: What’s the Difference?

Even the most well-respected dictionaries consider ‘mistrust’ and ‘distrust’ interchangeable. But people do tend to use them a little differently.

40 Brilliant Words That Begin With the Letter B

Battologize your friends by repeating these over and over again.

The Mysterious Origins of the Phrase ‘The Whole Nine Yards’

Linguists and lexicographers have truly gone the whole nine yards to uncover the origin of ‘the whole nine yards.’

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