Where Did the Expression ‘Gung Ho’ Come From?
We get this byword for enthusiasm from an officer in the Marines named Evans Fordyce Carlson.
WORDS
Definition Detective Quiz #27
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
How Did Latin America Get Its Name?
Latin isn’t widely spoken in Latin America, so why is it called that?
Why Many Road Signs Are No Longer Written in All Caps
Road signs have changed case in the last 15 years or so—here's why.
Can You Figure Out When the Word First Appeared in Print?
Some words have been around longer than you think.
Why Are Potatoes Called “Spuds”?
We dig down to the root of the issue.
9 Linguistic ‘Ignorantisms’ Even Sticklers Got Used To
Not even the strictest sticklers seem to care about how we use words like ‘abhorrent’ and ‘sodden’ anymore.
Can You Finish the Commonly Misheard Phrase?
Time to find out how well you know your correct expressions from your eggcorns.
Why Did ‘The Ukraine’ Become Just ‘Ukraine’?
Until a few decades ago, Ukraine was almost always referred to as 'the Ukraine'. Then people started dropping the definite article, and now you almost never see it. Here's why.
The 10 Hardest Connections Puzzles of 2024
Learn which Connections puzzles had players searching for hints most often in 2024.
10 Language Mistakes Kids Make That Are Actually Pretty Smart
These mistakes show that little kids know a lot more about the rules than we think.
Definition Detective Quiz #26
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Why Do We Say “Right as Rain”?
Where did this curious expression come from, and what’s so right about rain, anyway?
11 People Whose Names Became Adjectives
From David Lynch to Queen Elizabeth I, these folks achieved a type of lexical immortality when their names became adjectives.
The Word Definitions Each Country Looks Up the Most, Mapped
If you’ve ever looked up the definition of “gaslighting,” you’re not alone.
Where Did the Saying ‘Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb’ Come From?
The phrase dates back to the 19th century, but it took a fictional 20th century detective to take its popularity to new heights.
10 Word Pairs That Sound Like Opposites But Aren’t
Flammable vs. inflammable? Regardless vs. irregardless? Here are the linguistic explanations for 10 pairs of false antonyms.
Why Do We Say That Love Makes People Go “Weak at the Knees”?
In honor of Valentine’s Day, discover the origins of the phrase ‘weak at the knees,’ including its ties to ancient Rome and even astrology.
Definition Detective Quiz #25
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Why the Letters Q, W, and X Were Once Illegal in Türkiye
Sometimes the letter of the law has tough things to say about, well, letters.
10 Offbeat Terms of Endearment From History
From 'chickabiddy,' to 'tootsicums,' these terms of endearment are more evocative than any garden-variety 'babe.'
11 Words You Might Not Realize Come From ‘Love’
Whether it's bacteria, a city name, or a day of the week, love can be found in unexpected places—including our vocabulary.