WORDS

Make sure to use some bumfodder when you visit the shankie!

26 Terrific Slang Terms for Toilets and Toilet Paper

You've called it the John and the Crapper—now try out these more creative euphemisms the next time you head to the loo.

Nirvana's Kurt Cobain was into fuzz, but was not a lamestain.

'Wack Slacks': When the Media Fell for a Grunge Slang Hoax

In 1992, the mainstream media was eager to learn about the lexicon of the surging grunge scene. So a New York Times reporter phoned up an insider—who proceeded to make up a bunch of words.

40 Peculiar P-Words To Pep Up Your Vocabulary

If you're pauciloquent, then this list is worth reading. If you have pinaciphobia? You may want to be careful.

What Alaskans Mean When They Say They're 'Going Outside'

In Alaska, "going outside" applies to journeys that go beyond than stepping through your front door.

40 Opulent O-Words To Optimize Your Vocabulary

This omnium-gatherum will turn even oliogoglots into omniloquent charmers.

11 Québec Slang Terms You Should Know

Québec slang, as heard in Montréal and elsewhere, is a remarkable 'méli-mélo' (hodgepodge) of ancient French, more recent borrowings from Arabic- and Haitian Creole-speaking communities, and English loanwords.

Recurring vs. Reoccurring: What’s the Difference, and When Should I Use Each?

Yes, they’re synonyms. But there’s a little more to the semantic story of ‘recur’ vs. ’reoccur’ than that.

Subconscious vs. Unconscious: What’s the Difference?

To Sigmund Freud, there wasn’t one. But the terms aren’t always cited as synonyms.

Why Does Having ‘Egg on Your Face’ Mean You’re Embarrassed?

Having egg on your face used to have a literal meaning. Here’s how it became an idiom.

10 Common Crossword Puzzle Words You Should Know

These words rarely show up in real life, but they pop up again and again in the crossword world.

14 Secret Words for Conspiracies

Conspiracy theories are everywhere these days. Here are a few old words you can use to describe them while adjusting your tinfoil hat.

Catherine Crowe, the Woman Who Brought the Word 'Poltergeist' to English

Virtually no one in the U.S. or UK had heard of the ghostly term 'poltergeist' before Catherine Crowe put pen to paper.

Why Are Cowards Called “Chickens”?

‘Chicken’ is such a common synonym for ‘coward’ that it probably doesn’t even seem weird. But it is.

40 Nifty Words That Start With 'N' to Add to Your Vocabulary

File these away in your noggin.

You might be mispronouncing half of these, but don't worry. We can fix that.

10 of the World's Most Frequently Mispronounced Countries

If you're planning a trip to Pakistan, you might want to brush up on how to say it.

Why Do We Say Things Are 'Piping Hot'?

It's a warning put out by waitstaff and parents everywhere. But what does 'piping' have to do with it?

20 Foods You Might Be Mispronouncing

From açaí to vichyssoise, you may be pronouncing these food names wrong.

40 Magnificent M-Words To Maximize Your Vocabulary

Memorize these if you're a mnemotechnist, but be careful not to come off as magniloquent, lest you make everyone maungy.

The Ohio State University Has Won Its Fight to Trademark the Word ‘The’

The Ohio State University has officially registered a trademark for one of the most common words in the English language.

"I double dog dare you to leave the lid off the trash can."

Where Does the Term ‘Double Dog Dare’ Come From?

Double dog dares were around long before Flick resisted one in ‘A Christmas Story.’ But where did dogs come in?

The singular 'they' is far from a recent development.

The 600-Year History of the Singular 'They'

The singular form of 'they' has been endorsed by writers like Jane Austen and William Shakespeare.

10 Words the British Royal Family Won’t Say

If you want to fit in with Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the monarchy, know how to act the part.

40 Linguipotent L-Words To Enlarge Your Vocabulary

Don't be largiloquent but limited, lest you look like a classic lack-Latin.

Beyond Wanderlust: 30 Words Every Traveler Should Know

Fernweh is the new wanderlust.

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