Mental Floss

WORDS









Have these terms on hand the next time you toot.

Over the course of history, the human race has come up with many delightfully creative ways to describe the act of breaking wind.

Erin McCarthy


Don't save this list for a dreich day.

English might be Scotland’s official language, but the country also has distinct dialects and regional nuances. And understanding Scottish slang? That’s a whole other ballgame.

Louise Slyth


Quisby is just one insult from this list that you might want to start using.

Next time you need to win an argument, try dropping one of these old-fashioned English insults.

Paul Anthony Jones




Know how to respond the next time someone tells you the bogus origins of the phrase 'bring home the bacon.'

The stories behind these phrase origins are amazing. Too bad they’re not true—and too bad they’re often repeated as fact. Here’s the real scoop behind the expressions.

Judith Herman


When you're shopping at a flea market, have you ever stopped to wonder how it came by that name?

It’s another in a long line of etymologies that doesn’t have one clear-cut answer, but a few plausible (and interesting) possible explanations.

Matt Soniak






Sending out an SOS.

You know it's a distress signal, but what does it actually stand for? A lot of people think it's an abbreviation for “save our souls.” (It's not.)

Matt Soniak
Let's make moves and go to the National Aquarium!

Charm City’s namesake charm could partially be due to the locals’ broad vocabulary of slang. Here are some terms you should know if you ever plan on visiting.

Bethel Afful