WORDS

Who First Said “The Customer Is Always Right”?

The proverb that empowers rude shoppers has been going strong for over a century. Who’s to blame?

Even if you grew up eating pound cake, you may be less familiar with its origin story.

How Did Pound Cake Get Its Name?

The original formula for pound cake was impossible to forget.

18 Old-Timey Words and Terms to Use On New Year’s Eve

Get bugged up and enjoy some laughing soup until you’re in your airs!

Drop this fact at your New Year’s Eve party.

Why Do We ‘Ring In’ the New Year?

The meaning of ‘ring in the New Year’ is now mostly metaphorical, but it used to involve literal ringing.

You’re probably not pronouncing that word correctly.

15 Words You Think You’re Pronouncing Correctly (But You’re Probably Not)

Sorry to break it to you, but ‘mischievous’ isn’t “miss-CHEE-vee-uss,” and ‘boatswain’ isn’t “BOAT-swain.” We’re breaking it all down in the latest episode of The List Show on YouTube.

Why Do We Say “Jinx”?

If you’ve ever been jinxed into owing someone a soda, you should know why.

Where does the word 'poinsettia' come from, anyway?

The Origins of 13 Christmas Words

From worthless trinkets to misnamed chickens, here are the histories and etymologies of 13 Christmassy words.

Can You Tell the Difference Between Orwellian Words and Real Corporate Jargon?

George Orwell brought a vocabulary fit for a dystopia into the world. Corporate jargon sounds eerily similar.

Pink slips have had a lot of different meanings over the years.

Why Is Being Fired Called ‘Getting the Pink Slip’?

Getting laid off has long been associated with getting a fancy pink invitation to the unemployment line. Why?

Definition Detective Quiz #19

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

14 Archaic Christmas Carol Words, Explained

Know what you’re talking about when you sing “troll the ancient Yuletide carol.”

A stack of gifts ... or are they presents?

What’s the Difference Between a Gift and a Present?

Those brightly wrapped packages we exchange around the holidays and other special occasions: Sometimes we call them “gifts,” sometimes “presents.” Is there a difference?

Definition Detective Quiz #18

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

Why Do We Call It an “Allen Wrench”?

The six-sided tool helped make IKEA a household name. But did anyone named Allen have anything to do with it?

The Top 10 Most Mispronounced Terms of 2024, According to TV Captioners

Here are 2024's trickiest terms to say, half of which are famous names.

15 Regional Words for Wintry Weather

Americans have no lack of idioms for snow and other features of winter weather. Here are 15 regional terms you should know.

Definition Detective Quiz #17

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

Brain rot can be a consequence of too much TikTok.

‘Brain Rot’ Is the Word of 2024, According to Oxford

The phrase for being terminally online is not flattering, but it is Oxford’s Word of the Year.

13 Old-Timey Turkey Terms to Bring Back This Thanksgiving

Use them while you're talking turkey.

Definition Detective Quiz #16

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

Living Room vs. Family Room vs. Den: What’s the Difference?

You can binge Netflix in any room you like, but there are some key differences between these living areas.

Fences have a little something to do with it.

Where Does the Phrase ‘Beyond the Pale’ Come From?

To get to the answer, we need to discuss Latin, wooden stakes, Catherine the Great, and, of course, Shakespeare.

7 Words We Rarely (or Never) Use Without Their Prefixes

Solving the etymological mysteries of 'innocent,' 'disgruntled,' and other prefix-dependent words.

The meaning behind “phony“ has to do with fake jewelry.

Why Does ’Phony’ Mean Fake?

The origins of the term come from the Irish word for “ring.”

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