Why Do We Say “Trick or Treat” on Halloween?
The origins of the phrase (indirectly) involve smelly cabbage, Donald Duck, and several Canadian journalists.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Do Ghosts Say “Boo”?
If linguistics is any indicator, it would appear that everybody in the spirit realm speaks Scots English.
1970-01-01 08:00
11 Common English Words That Come From Native American Languages
‘Avocado’ comes to us from Nahuatl—and it doesn’t mean what you might think it means.
1970-01-01 08:00
How Did ‘Jones’ Come to Mean ‘Craving’?
Nowadays, we use jones to express an intense craving for something. But it used to refer specifically to drugs.
1970-01-01 08:00
Rhyming Is Encouraged in the New Dr. Seuss Edition of ’Scrabble’
You can play Dr. Seuss ‘Scrabble’ here or there—you can play it anywhere!
1970-01-01 08:00
‘Rizz,’ ‘Girlboss,’ and 23 Other Terms Merriam-Webster Just Added to the Dictionary
Knowing the meaning of ‘rizz’ can help you connect with the Gen Zers in your life.
1970-01-01 08:00
Angus Cloud's mother reveals his last words to her
Angus Cloud's final words to his mother were filled with love.
1970-01-01 08:00
Where Did the Term ‘Up to Snuff’ Originate?
Are you not up to snuff when it comes to knowing the origin of ‘up to snuff’? We can help you with that.
1970-01-01 08:00
20 Fall Harvest Words and Their Origins
Fall is here, and you're getting hungry. Feast on this cornucopia of etymologies for seasonal veggies straight from the garden.
1970-01-01 08:00
11 Nouns That Only Have a Plural Form
Some nouns only have a plural form, regardless of how we think of them. They are known as ‘pluralia tantum,’ Latin for “plural only.”
1970-01-01 08:00
50 Words That Sound Dirty But Actually Aren’t
To paraphrase Krusty the Clown, comedy isn’t dirty words—it’s words that sound dirty. Here are 50 of them.
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Do We Sometimes Call Aluminum Foil “Tin Foil”?
Tin foil and aluminum foil are not the same thing.
1970-01-01 08:00