SLANG

Did Humphrey Bogart Really Hog Joints? (And If Not, Why Do We Say ‘Bogart’?)

This weed slang originated in the 1960s and yep, you can thank Humphrey Bogart for it, but not for reasons you might expect.

America’s 10 Most Commonly Misunderstood Slang Terms

American slang terms can vary from state to state—these in particular are known to cause confusion.

George Washington went by a code name during the Revolutionary War. (And technically, he should be saying, “Hello, my 411 is 711”—411 was the code for “name.”)

12 Historical Code Words and Phrases

Asking a police officer “do you drink?” in the 1970s had nothing to do with grabbing a beer at a nearby bar.

A pixelated version of an illustration by Édouard-Henri Avril from the 1824 book ‘De figuris Veneris.’

The Research Error That Gave Us the Phrase ‘Missionary Position’

The origins of the phrase 'missionary position' involve Alfred Kinsey, some shoddy research, and zero actual missionaries.

Why Do We Call Hit Movies ‘Blockbusters’?

Before the word was used to describe hit movies, ‘blockbusters’ was a nickname for a highly destructive bomb.

Castilian vs. Latin American Spanish: 12 Words You Don’t Want to Confuse

‘Coger’ and the other terms on this list mean something very different in Spain than they do in other hispanophone countries.

Military Slang Terms: 11 Examples, Explained

The close quarters of those serving together in war is a perfect Petri dish for slang. From ‘FUBAR’ to ‘fobbit,’ here are some military slang terms you should know (plus, why the military uses so many acronyms, anyway).

Ah, the classic initialism for the classic phrase 'Pardon me, you must have mistaken me for someone who gives a damn.'

100 WTF Terms From the FBI’s 2014 Internet Slang Dictionary

The FBI’s 2014 list of internet acronyms and shorthand will have you LWP (laughing with passion).

Why Do We Call Kids “Rug Rats”?

It’s hardly the most complimentary turn of phrase, but rug rat has been a slang term for children for more than half a century.

Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright), once referred to as a "sweet summer child."

10 Common Phrases That Came From Pop Culture

From mullet to bucket list, these terms from pop culture are newer than you may have assumed.

Generation Alpha Slang: 10 Terms That Will Help You Show More Rizz

Discover the meanings and origins behind 10 of the most popular bits of Generation Alpha slang, from “skibidi” to “rizz” (and everything in between).

Which ones will you start using in conversation?

80 Weird Words and Phrases

If you’ve ever needed a word for a piece of bread eaten just after a bath, or a term for an unpleasant choice between three options, you’re in luck.

What the @%$!! is the oldest known curse word?

What‘s the Oldest Curse Word in English?

The four-letter words that still have the power to offend took a circuitous route out of our mouths and into our language.

Quiz: Can You Match the Victorian Slang Term to its Meaning?

Test your knowledge of Victorian slang with this quiz that’s bang up to the elephant.

Shakespeare is the source of a lot of words.

21 Words Created by Shakespeare (And 4 That Weren’t)

Shakespeare is the first known citation for over a thousand words and even more meanings—but new research occasionally shows that Shakespeare actually didn't originate some phrases, a trend that will likely continue over time.

Four American soldiers stationed in Northern Ireland in 1942.

Who Is the Roger of ‘Roger That’?

Here's how 'Roger' came to mean "received" (and how 'wilco' fits in).

Jazz Up Your Vocabulary With Mental Floss’s 2025 Word Nerd Desk Calendar

Our 2025 word-a-day calendar covers old-timey slang terms, fascinating phrase origins, and more.

‘Dumpster fire’ is just one slang term to come out of the 2000s.

2000s Slang: 30 Amazeballs Terms You Should Know

In the 2000s, the internet took over, as did social media, streaming, and cell phones that were also cameras and tiny computers. The slang of this era didn’t disappoint, either: From amazeballs to mukbang and beyond, here are some terms you might not have

The Origins of 11 Funny Animal-Related Sayings

The origins are often more complicated (and fun) than you’d expect.

Just call it "giggle smoke." Or "Nixon."

18 Old-Timey Slang Terms for Marijuana That We Should Bring Back

From 'giggle smoke' to 'Nixon,' these marijuana nicknames deserve a resurgence.

41 Cowboy Slang Terms for Things You Eat and Drink

Cowboys in the Old West had all kinds of colorful terms for everyday items, from eggs (‘cackleberries’) to oysters (‘saltwater vegetables’) and beyond.

In the South, all sodas are called “Coke,” no matter what their actual name is.

Southern Slang: 11 Words and Phrases You Hear in the South, Explained

Here’s a rundown of some Southern slang terms that might be beneficial to keep in mind the next time you’re visiting.

‘Ghosting’ is a very Millennial slang term.

Millennial Slang: 16 Terms You Should Totes Know

From adulting to doggo, you can thank Millennials for popularizing these slang terms.

Synonyms for ‘Cool’: 21 Rad Slang Terms You Should Know

Enjoy this list of synonyms for ‘cool’ in the sense of “awesome, excellent, neato, super-duper.” They’re dope.

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