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More From the Language Section


The English language is a mosaic of different languages and cultures, which allowed elements of Norse mythology to linger in the vocabulary we use every day.
Meagan Bojarski|
The phrase “pie in the sky” has a surprisingly dark history. Learn how labor activist Joe Hill coined the expression in a song in 1911.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Why do we say “two peas in a pod” to describe things that are nearly identical? The expression dates back centuries—and peas are the perfect comparison.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Here's how the Sirens of the 'Odyssey' helped inspire the name of the modern siren, which was first invented around the turn of the 19th century.
Paul Anthony Jones|
You probably say these words every day without realizing they were born in the Middle Ages.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Why do we say "pardon my French" after dropping an F-bomb? Learn how Victorian polite etiquette turned into a cover for modern cuss words.
Matt Soniak, Nitya Rao|
Did you know these everyday words can be traced back to Roman gods, legends, and ancient myths?
Paul Anthony Jones|
Louis Armstrong’s name is almost always pronounced “Louie,” but the jazz legend himself insisted it was actually “Louis.” Here’s how the confusion started.
Chris Wheatley|