Words

Here are the stories—and theories—behind 14 of your favorite alcoholic tipples, from bellinis to mimosas.

Many of these slang terms for death are still familiar, but quite a few are less known—and still delightful.

It's all about boats. And baseball.

The fat lady has nothing on Yogi's "It ain't over" saying.

They might not be tall, dark strangers, but their stories are fascinating nonetheless.

Finally, an answer to where the phrase sleeping with the fishes came from!

Whether you’re obsessed with 'GoodFellas' and 'The Godfather' or are binge-watching 'The Sopranos,' this list is for you.

Happy Roald Dahl Day!

An 1884 illustration of spectators in the theater

Nicknames for noisy babies? Just because these terms from Victorian theater have dropped out of use doesn't mean they're any less applicable today.

Flickr User nevermindtheend // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

A little peer pressure goes a long way in the chemistry world.

When we’re looking to describe an amount that’s teensy-weensy, the words aren’t precise, but they are folksy and charming.

Ready? OK! Bring It On cheered into theaters 15 years ago this month. So dust off those pom-poms, squeeze into that sweater, and jump into some cheer slang, pop culture references, and the story behind spanky pants.

While not every school has cliques, nearly all of them in pop culture seem to.

London Stereoscopic Company/Getty Images

Most of the terms came and went in the way that slang does, but a few were so melodious and apt that they became a part of our permanent vocabulary.

Describe tomorrow morning's warmer-upper just like a 'coffee sommelier.'

If you're new to the Whoniverse, you'll need a crash course in Who-speak. Discover these fun 'Doctor Who' terms.

He was always on the lookout for new words, which he kept in a growing file on his computer.

How one mysterious medical case helped map the brain.

Want to be a Hollywood insider? Then you’d better know the industry jargon.

Both flour and flower come from the same root word

Sometimes words we might not expect to have anything in common historically do go back to the same source. They’re called etymological doublets—here are 15 of them.