by Dictionary Scoop Cowboys in the Old West not only tamed the inhospitable land, but they also forged their own language. They created unrefined similes and metaphors, broke the rules of grammar, flooded figures of speech with humor, and made a verb out of anything. In this article, we review 12 expressions we …
Category Archives: pop culture
Here’s Some Much-Needed Comic Relief
by Dictionary Scoop Charlie Chaplin once said that a day without laughter is a wasted day, and we couldn’t agree more. In a world where humor is often overshadowed by seriousness, people with the ability to laugh at themselves and the silliness of life are like a refreshing breeze on a hot summer day. …
Hand Gestures: More Than Words Can Say
by Dictionary Scoop Hand gestures are everywhere. Whether expressing emotions, adding context to our words, or simply enhancing spoken communication, gestures are a vital part of our shared culture, passed down through generations for centuries. From ancient Rome to the modern day, here are 12 hand gestures and their origins explained. 1-Thumbs up The exact origins …
How Greek Mythology Slips Into Everyday Life
by Dictionary Scoop Have you ever noticed how many everyday words go back to Greek mythology? Sure, we have the more obvious ones—like “narcissist” or “nemesis”—but you might find in this list terms that you didn’t know were so old. 1-Tantalizing Remember the story of Tantalus? He was a king who tried to fool the gods and …
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Quibbles And Bits: Sorry Drew, Didn’t Mean It!
by Kevin Burton In a recent post about Elton John and his struggles with vision loss, I made an offhanded, rash statement. Today I make a correction. I hope it’s not too late. I wondered in print about what I would say to Sir Elton about blindness in the very unlikely event …
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Of Sir Elton John And Seeing Things Clearly
by Kevin Burton What would you say to Sir Elton John if you could have a moment’s conversation with him today? Now that question may be absurd, or at least rhetorical. If you’re like me and grew up with Elton John in his prime all over the radio, as part of the fabric …
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Why Valentine’s Day Is A Fake, And Worse
by Kevin Burton A co-worker of Jeannette’s told her that he and his wife didn’t celebrate Valentine’s day, calling it a “fake holiday.” Many people agree. But as it turns out it’s worse than that. “Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate romance and love and kissy-face fealty. But the origins of …
Taking Uber To Calvin And Hobbes’ House?
by Kevin Burton I open my Uber app. First thing it wants to know, “where to?” Good question. Obvious question, logical. Oh I know exactly where I want to go. And I’m pretty much packed already. Traveling light. But the thing is…well I don’t, you know, strictly speaking, have an actual …
Endearing Facts About “Calvin and Hobbes”
by interestingfacts.com Calvin and Hobbes has captured the hearts and imaginations of readers worldwide since its debut in 1985. Created by Bill Watterson, the beloved comic strip follows the adventures of Calvin, a precocious and mischievous 6-year-old boy, and his sardonic stuffed tiger, Hobbes. Together, they navigate the challenges of childhood and family life, …
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Keeping Score With The Language Of Sports
by Kevin Burton I knew sports played a big role in the shaping of our common language, but I didn’t know how big. We previously brought you a list of sports idioms on Page 7, but none of the ones from Dictionary Scoop that we posted yesterday or the one below, we’re on …
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