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Mental Floss

Language - Page 55 of 87

The high-speed patter of the auctioneer is called 'the chant,' and it's designed to separate bidders from their money.
Jake Rossen|
Keep these F-words in mind if you're flexiloquent.
Paul Anthony Jones|
The wire in ‘down to the wire’ was originally found on a horse racetrack—and ‘home stretch’ didn’t come from baseball.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Yes, there's a specific word for a treatise on a beard.
Paul Anthony Jones|
When someone stops what they’re saying to go back and change a word to an even stronger one (as in, “I’m very happy—no, ecstatic to be here”), that’s called "epanorthosis."
Paul Anthony Jones|
Here's a primer on speaking like a Canuck.
Karen Rocznik|
When does something stink, when did you believe something stank, and when might it have stunk?
Jake Rossen|
How’s your hose? If the question is confusing—or sounds like someone is trying to sell you gardening equipment—you might not be up on your baseball slang. “Ever
Keith Johnston|
D is one of the most frequently used letters in the alphabet. Consider adding some of these delicious D words to your vocabulary.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Admitting you don’t know the meaning behind any of Chicago’s long-standing slang terms is akin to slathering your hot dog with ketchup.
Kate Schweitzer|
C is for cacafuego.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Whether you say 'car-mel' or 'car-a-mel', your pronunciation of 'caramel' is technically correct.
Michele Debczak|
If you’re up to speed on the tubular ‘80s slang and the wicked vernacular of the ‘90s, check out some slang terms and phrases that made the ‘70s groovy.
Jake Rossen|
It might not be a big deal, but you can make it sound like one.
Arika Okrent|
If you’ve ever tried to give “110 percent” to a task, chances are you’ve worked in an office where people tend to use a lot of corporate jargon.
Jake Rossen|
If you say “my pleasure” before your Chick-fil-A cashier has a chance to utter it, you won’t score free food.
Ellen Gutoskey|
If you’re easily startled or just need some alternatives to “By the hammer of Thor!” and “Damn!,” read on for some old-timey outbursts.
Mark Peters|
If your Wordle game is feeling stale, these math-backed opening words could give the momentum you need.
Michele Debczak|
Even the most well-respected dictionaries consider ‘mistrust’ and ‘distrust’ interchangeable. But people do tend to use them a little differently.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Battologize your friends by repeating these over and over again.
Paul Anthony Jones|
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