Skip to main content
Words section header

Words

The Latest



More From the Language Section


The "butterfly effect" may not mean exactly what you think. Here's the story behind the phrase's creation, along with an explanation of how it has become oversimplified in pop culture.
Eden Gordon|
Before it became everyday advice for staying alert, "keep your eye on the ball" had a much more literal origin. Here’s where the phrase really came from.
Paul Anthony Jones|
One boy’s name and one girl’s name claimed the top spots the year you were born.
Logan DeLoye|
The name "Qatar" for the Middle-Eastern country is pronounced very differently in Arabic than in English.
Chelsea Thatcher|
The term "suffragette" originated to belittle a group of women's rights activists who used more aggressive, sometimes violent tactics than typical suffragists.
Jane Alexander|
Where the phrase came from and what it really means.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Most people believe the phrase "close, but no cigar" comes from a fairground tradition, but a paper trail reveals something stranger.
Matt Hoffman|
Discover where the phrase “back to the grind” came from, and how “grind” went from college slang for hard work to an everyday expression.
Paul Anthony Jones|