MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

Why Do We Say “Pony Up” When We Want Money?

The idiom for demanding payment doesn’t quite have the equine origins one would think.

Whitewater rafters carry the Olympic torch on its way to Paris.

How Is the Olympic Flame Lit—and How Does It Stay Lit?

This year, the Olympic torch made a symbolic journey from Greece to Paris for the Summer Games.

Why Do Grooms Break a Glass at Jewish Weddings?

There’s a lot of cultural and religious significance attached to this enduring Jewish wedding tradition. Plus, it’s just plain fun.

Impress your crafty friends by actually knowing how their sewing equipment works.

What's the Purpose of the Little Strawberry Attached to Pincushions?

The fabric strawberry is more than just a cute accessory to an already cute accessory. It also serves as an important tool.

Everyone here is someone's late someone.

Why Does ‘Late’ Mean “Dead”?

There’s a historical reason, but there may be a social one as well.

This American icon has become a rare sight.

Why Are Convertible Cars Disappearing From American Roads?

Consumer tastes have shifted over the past 20 years.

You ‘aught’ to know the answer of this question.

Why Do We Call the 2000s “the Aughts”?

Suggestions for what to call the period of time from 2000–2009 ranged from ‘the nillies’ and ‘the oh-ohs’ to ‘the double zeroes’ and ‘the noughties.’ So how’d we land on ‘the aughts’?

Pick-up truck beds have surprising versatility.

Why Do Pick-Up Truck Beds Have Grooves on the Sides?

Pick-up truck beds are here to make your life easier—if you know how to use them.

This is what Amelia Bedelia would picture.

Why Are They Called “Deviled Eggs” If There’s No Devil in Them?

Eggs aren’t the only things you can devil.

Here's Why Most Tornadoes Occur in the U.S.

The United States sees more tornadoes than anywhere else on the planet. Geography explains why.

Why Does Flushing the Toilet Change the Shower Temperature?

It's what every shower-taker dreads—but it doesn't have to be this way.

Even this cricket wants to know the answer.

Why Do We Say “Crickets” When It’s Silent?

Cricket chirps can reach 100 decibels. So why do we use them as a byword for ‘silence’?

The Evolution of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’

‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ is a fairy tale with a long history. But Goldilocks as we know her didn‘t originally appear in the popular children‘s story.

These balls actually do serve a purpose.

The Reason Behind Those Brightly Colored Balls Along Power Lines

If you thought the fluorescent marker balls had something to do with increasing visibility, you were right.

Tennis balls are always under pressure to perform.

Why Do Tennis Balls Come in Airtight Containers?

The key to holding court? A fresh can of tennis balls.

You’ve likely heard at least one tale that starts with the line.

Why So Many Stories Begin With ‘Once Upon a Time’

‘Once Upon a Time’ appears in many fairy tales and stories. The phrase has a long history and a practical narrative purpose.

Jacqueline Anders/Moment/Getty Images (cat), Jon Mayer/Mental Floss (thought bubble)

How Long Can You Leave Your Cat Home Alone?

According to experts, the answer is a lot shorter than you may think.

What Is Code-Switching—And Why Do We Do It?

Code-switching goes beyond language—here's what it means and why it happens.

Why Do Milk Jugs Have Those Inverted Circles?

The concave circles built into the sides of plastic milk jugs are an important part of their design.

What Are Those Lines on a Car’s Rear Windshield?

Horizontal lines run across the rear glass on most cars. Here's why.

Grasshopper on the left, swarm of locusts on the right

Grasshoppers vs. Locusts: What’s the Difference?

All locusts are grasshoppers, but not all grasshoppers are locusts.

Jack Sprat could refer to two historical royals.

The Possibly Royal Origins of the ‘Jack Sprat’ Nursery Rhyme

Although “Jack Sprat” may not be in the nursery rhyme limelight, the two theories behind its meaning—both of which involve royalty—are just as interesting as the origins of better-known rhymes.

Where Does the Word ‘Hoser’ Come From?

As brothers Bob and Doug McKenzie on ‘SCTV,’ actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas made ‘hoser’ popular—and there are plenty of theories about the word’s origin.

Chris Evert at the 1978 Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Why Is It Called a “Tennis Bracelet”?

Chris Evert’s tennis bracelets made tennis bracelets a thing. But the origin story gets mistold quite often.

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