by Dictionary Scoop Our language loves to borrow from the dinner table. Many everyday words that sound delicious once referred only to food but have since taken on entirely new meanings. Take a look at 12 of these idioms and see for yourself! 1-Butterfingers A term once used for describing the act …
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Will You Use These Ten Weird Words?
by Kevin Burton The cautionary note from Dictionary Scoop regarding today’s content is “Warning: once you learn these strange words, you’ll start using them!” Well I don’t think so, other than one I already use and another I might use, sparingly. Thinking of words as tools, I would decline to jam most of …
Common Things Once Worth More Than Gold
by Dictionary Scoop Many of the things we take for granted today were once the stuff of dreams for kings, aristocrats, and the wealthy few. From basic household staples to everyday technology, these now-common goods were once markers of status and privilege. Here’s a look at ten items that were once nearly unattainable luxuries. 1-Sugar Once called …
“Cat Island” Japan And Other “Animal Towns”
by Dictionary Scoop Traveling to foreign cities and towns is a great way to interact with different people and their cultures, but have you ever thought about visiting an animal town? Scattered around the world, some of these places are the result of natural reserves set up to protect endangered species, while others …
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Ten Surprising Foreign Language Enclaves
by Dictionary Scoop Migrations, trade, and other historical events have contributed to the spread of languages to regions far from their origins. But sometimes, we arrive at a new location expecting to hear a particular language, only to be surprised by the use of a language we wouldn’t expect. Here are ten places in …
What The British Mean When They Say ‘Sorry’
by Mike MacEacheran BBC In the UK, sorry is not simply an apology, it’s a cultural reflex – a five-letter pressure valve used to soften requests, smooth over awkwardness, fill conversational gaps and avoid the national horror of seeming rude. It is perhaps no coincidence that such famously polite characters as Paddington and …
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Alberta To Vote On Separation From Canada
by Nadine Yousif and Sareen Habeshian BBC Alberta will hold a referendum on whether the province should remain in Canada or move ahead with a second binding vote on separation, marking the first significant test of the country’s unity in decades. Thursday’s announcement by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith comes after a citizen-led petition …
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Ten Words That Came From Nordic To English
by Dictionary Scoop Romance languages, led by French, have had such a lasting influence on English that we sometimes forget that it is actually a Germanic language, and as such, a relative of the Nordic languages. However, Nordic languages had left their mark on English centuries before the French-Normans even attempted to conquer England, and they …
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Wartime Innovations We Can’t Live Without
by Dictionary Scoop War is hell said the soldiers of old. But it’s also the mother of invention. Conflict and the urgent necessities of war have driven rapid innovation. Many everyday products trace their origins back to military needs. Here are ten objects with surprisingly martial origins. 1-Nylon Now a ubiquitous fabric …
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