Clik here to view.
By the seat of your pants: Why do I say that I fly by the seat of my pants?
Whether we’re going into an exam or a meeting unprepared, or whether we are blagging our way through a conversation where we’re trying to seem knowledgeable about a subject we haven’t studied in great...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Smart Alec Origin: Why do we say someone’s a Smart Alec?
We’ve all known Smart Alecs in our time. And most of us have been Smart Alecs at least once in our lives too! It’s those moments when you take joy in sharing something clever you’ve learned and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Jack cards: Why are Jacks called Jacks?
Have you ever played cards and suddenly wondered why we call the Jack cards Jacks? It seems a bit strange and out of place considering the other picture cards are a King and a Queen. Why not call it a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Meaning of Place Names: Why do we call places by certain names?
Behind every name is a story, and this goes for place names too. Although each individual place has a unique specific definition, there are some common components and terms for the names of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Etymology of Toast: Why is it called a toast?
A toast is a piece of lightly scorched bread, right? So why do we call the raising of our glasses at events like weddings, a toast? Toasted bread and raising a wine glass in a toast really do have...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eat your heart out: Meaning and Phrase Origin
Today, whilst making an observation about the imaginative talents of youtuber John Green for his creatively named computer-game football team, the Swindon Town Swoodilypoopers, my companion laughingly...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“In a nutshell” Meaning and Origin
The idiom, “in a nutshell” is used when you want to say that the description you’re giving is concise, to-the-point and brief. It is the information boiled down to its simplest form. The question is:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why do we say butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth?
The phrase “butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth” is one of the most misunderstood phrases in the English language. Some people think it is used to mean that a person is sweet and innocent whilst others...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Acid Test Ratio & Acid Test Etymology
Acid Test Meaning In the world of finance and banking, the term “acid test ratio” is a number that tells you about the financial integrity of the company. It tells you how likely a company is to pay...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Origin of XOXO: XO Hugs and Kisses Symbols
With the popularity of emails, SMS messages, online chat and the TV show Gossip Girl, it’s very common to see people signing off with “x kisses” or xoxo hugs and kisses. But have you ever stopped to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Easter Etymology: Why is Easter called Easter?
When we looked at the origins of Christmas traditions, we discovered that some Christian traditions have pagan origins. So perhaps it is not too surprising that Christian and pagan elements also...
View Article
