Origins - Trivia, Quizzes, and Brain Teasers | Mental Floss

Why Do We Say 'Cut to the Chase'?

Charlie Chaplin in The Circus (1928).

Why Do We Say 'Cut to the Chase'?

My Dance Card Is Full: The “I Would If I Could” of Victorian Ball Etiquette

"Would you be so kind as to pencil me in for a polka?"

My Dance Card Is Full: The “I Would If I Could” of Victorian Ball Etiquette

Why Are Blue and White the Colors of Hanukkah?

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Why Are Blue and White the Colors of Hanukkah?

The Real-Life Origins of 15 Urban Legends

He's (probably) not hiding in your shower.

The Real-Life Origins of 15 Urban Legends

Who Was "Miranda" of the Miranda Warning?

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What Did People Use Before Toilet Paper?

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Why Do We Call the NCAA Basketball Tournament 'March Madness'?

A euphoric Villanova men's basketball team brandishes the championship trophy after defeating the Michigan Wolverines in 2018's NCAA tournament.

Who Is 'The Real McCoy'?

Inventor Elijah McCoy is may or may not be "The Real McCoy."

Where Did the Term 86 Come From?

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Why is Friday the 13th Considered Unlucky?

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The Disputed Origins of Publix’s Chicken Tender Subs

Josh Hallett, Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0

The Reason Why Stop Signs Are Red

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Why Do We Knock On Wood?

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What’s the Origin of Jack-O’-Lanterns?

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How Did 6 Feet Become the Standard Grave Depth?

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Why Do College Basketball Teams Cut Down the Nets?

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