WORDS

Why Is It Called an “Elevator Pitch”?

A quick sales attempt is said to be an “elevator pitch.” But does it actually have anything to do with elevators?

Spies use slang to keep a lid on things.

Spy Slang: 24 Top Secret Terms You Should Know

Going undercover? Don’t forget your pocket litter, otherwise you might be targeted for some wet work.

Who doesn’t want to live, laugh, and love?

The Origin of the Phrase ‘Live, Laugh, Love’

A 1904 essay contest may be indirectly responsible for what's happened to your grandmother's dining room.

Why Do We Call Things “Hot Button” Issues?

The phrase dates back to the 1960s, and has more than one meaning.

10 Charming Chinese Idioms and Proverbs (and Their Origins)

From ghosts that eat tofu to an angry Buddha and beyond.

Did Humphrey Bogart Really Hog Joints? (And If Not, Why Do We Say ‘Bogart’?)

This weed slang originated in the 1960s and yep, you can thank Humphrey Bogart for it, but not for reasons you might expect.

Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken, Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers, and Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Origins of All 32 NHL Team Names

Ever wonder what a Canuck is? How about a Blue Jacket? Here's a breakdown of how all of the National Hockey League teams got their names.

The Delicious Origins of 18 Summer Fruit Names

Just as juicy as summer’s many berries, stone fruits, and melons are the far-flung, surprising, and often obscure origins of their names.

'IJBOL' (for 'I just burst out laughing') is an acronym. 'LMAO' is an initialism.

Acronym vs. Initialism: What’s the Difference?

Here's everything you need to know about the difference between acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms.

Get ready for the world’s funniest road trip.

The Funniest Town Name in All 50 States

From Bumpass to Bugtussle, America's small towns have a flair for humor.

Princeton University's ivy-covered Nassau Hall, which dates back to 1756.

Why Is It Called the “Ivy League”?

Here’s the story of how the Ivy League got its name—and a list of all the schools that belong to it (including the informal “Ivy Plus” schools).

Patient portals unfortunately aren't yet of the teleportal variety.

Why Does ‘Stat’ Mean “Immediately”?

Here’s everything you ever wondered about ‘stat’: its meaning, its origins, and whether ER doctors really shout it all the time.

America’s 10 Most Commonly Misunderstood Slang Terms

American slang terms can vary from state to state—these in particular are known to cause confusion.

It’s not one you’re likely to use in everyday conversation—but you will find it in an dictionary.

What’s the Longest Word in English?

Spoiler alert: Despite what you might have heard, it’s not ‘antidisestablishmentarianism.’

Spoilers for this article without context.

15 Fascinating Linguistics Terms You Didn’t Learn in School

This list of linguistics terms will teach you how to tell your spoonerisms from your mondegreens.

We can thank Shakespeare for popularizing it, sort of.

Why Do We Say ‘In a Pickle’?

Contrary to popular belief, Shakespeare wasn’t the one who invented this common idiom. But trying to unravel its origins will land you in a bit of a tricky situation.

‘Bac’n’: 16 Foods With Misleading Names

Some food names are less than forthcoming about what they really are. (We’re looking at you, Grape-Nuts.)

What Does ‘Wi-Fi’ Stand For? It’s Complicated

If you think 'Wi-Fi' stands for 'wireless fidelity,' you should read this.

We don’t know a lot about where the phrase came from.

What Does the Phrase ‘Keep It Under Your Hat’ Mean?

The phrase has evolved somewhat since its first uses—and its origin is something of a mystery.

George Washington went by a code name during the Revolutionary War. (And technically, he should be saying, “Hello, my 411 is 711”—411 was the code for “name.”)

12 Historical Code Words and Phrases

Asking a police officer “do you drink?” in the 1970s had nothing to do with grabbing a beer at a nearby bar.

A pixelated version of an illustration by Édouard-Henri Avril from the 1824 book ‘De figuris Veneris.’

The Research Error That Gave Us the Phrase ‘Missionary Position’

The origins of the phrase 'missionary position' involve Alfred Kinsey, some shoddy research, and zero actual missionaries.

‘Don’t Fire Until Your See the Whites of Their Eyes’ may (or may not) have been uttered at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

‘Don’t Fire Until You See the Whites of Their Eyes’: The Obscure Origin of the Military Command

Legend has it that a heroic American commander at the Battle of Bunker Hill implored his men to hold their fire until their enemies were under their noses. But did the event actually happen?

Why Do We Call Hit Movies ‘Blockbusters’?

Before the word was used to describe hit movies, ‘blockbusters’ was a nickname for a highly destructive bomb.

The 20 Most Spoken Languages in the World

Learn a fun fact about each of the most popular languages in the world.

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