LANGUAGE

Definition Detective Quiz #4

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

The Not-So-Nice Origins of ‘Bookworm’

‘Bookworm,’ which now implies someone is well-read, once meant that you were a total loser.

These things are pretty weird when you think about them.

Positively Negative: 5 Surprising Ways We Say “No” Without Really Meaning It

From polite offers to emphatic exclamations, English speakers have cleverly twisted negative expressions to mean something rather different.

15 Different Ways to Call “Dibs” Across the United States

You know to say, “I’ve got dibs!” but what if someone else says, “I wackie that doughnut,” or “Let's go snacks on it”? You might lose out on some chocolatey goodness. Be prepared by bulking up your dibs vocabulary.

Learn which languages are most popular in your country.

The Language Each Country Wants to Learn the Most, Mapped

From German to Arabic, these are the top languages that people want to learn in different countries.

The Forgotten Sources of 12 Phrases

This episode of The List Show is all about why we say what we say—from the poem that gave us ‘albatross around your neck’ to the hands that gave us ‘hands down.’

Definition Detective Quiz #3

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Take your crossword puzzle skills to the next level with these tips.

8 Helpful Tips for Solving Crossword Puzzles

If you want to raise your crossword game to the next level, grab a pencil (not a pen!) and follow these tips for success.

The Most-Spoken Language Besides English and Spanish in Every State, Mapped

The analysis from WordFinderX took a deep dive into the languages of the United States—and revealed some fascinating trends along the way.

Definition Detective Quiz #2

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

The Long, Strange History of the Word ‘Weird’

Where did this bizarre word come from, and how has it changed over the centuries?

Keep a look out for the origins of this weird phrase.

Where Does the Expression ‘Keep Your Eyes Peeled’ Come From?

Popular theories involve pirates—and police.

In Japanese, ‘ringo’ means both “apple” and “apples.”

5 Ways Nouns Change in Different Languages

Across the world’s languages, nouns are surprisingly chameleonic creatures, shape-shifting and category-hopping in ways that can make your head spin.

20 Old Words for Ignorant People

Here are a few words for ignorant people you might want to add to your lexicon, from ‘wantwit’ to ‘dorkmunder’ to ‘ninnyhammer.’

Why Do We Say “Make a Beeline”?

Making a beeline for the buffet table? You’re buying into some bee stereotypes.

Definition Detective Quiz #1

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

What Exactly Is a ‘Wild Goose Chase’?

No wild geese were harmed in the making of this idiom.

Why Do We Say “Cold, Hard Cash”?

The meaning behind the money.

What’s the Word for When You Can’t Remember a Word?

There's a fancy term for forgetting a word—'lethologica.'

Olympic sports like volleyball have their own delicious slang.

20 Colorful Slang Terms from Olympic Sports

Here are 20 fun bits of Olympics slang, from diving’s ‘bingo’ to gymnastics’ ‘twisties.’

Hand fans were the Tinder of the Victorian era.

The Secret Language of Victorian-Era Hand Fans

Want to let a lover know you’re into them? Try letting a fan come to rest on your cheek.

In Korean, ‘chikin’ means something pretty specific—and it’s not exactly what you think.

14 Konglish Words That Aren’t What They Seem

Korean is full of pseudo-anglicisms, colloquially called “Konglish.” Can you guess what the words that sound like ‘meeting’ or ‘skin’ refer to?

These languages have disappeared—but some of them are making a comeback.

11 Extinct, Dead, and Dormant U.S. Languages

Not all languages stick around forever. Some of these 11 tongues are extinct, some are dead or dormant, and some are finding new life.

'Stump Speaking' by George Caleb Bingham, 1853.

The Reason Why Some Political Addresses Are Called “Stump Speeches”

Some stumps were involved in the making of the stump speech.

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