I have many favourite English words – serendipity, discombobulated, mellifluous, for example – but my favourite word is niddy-noddy! Advertisements
Words
Pants (UK), pants (US), pants (mathematical) and a pile of pants
Another potential for embarrassment between US and UK English In the US pants are worn outside your underwear: In many parts in the UK pants ARE your underwear: So, it may be inadvisable to say ‘ooh nice pants’ in the… Read More ›
34 words that are actually acronyms
(Navy) SEAL – SEa, Air, Land 3M – Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing AGA (stove) – Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator (Swedish) BASE (jumping) – Building, Antenna, Span, or Earth BMW – Bavarian Motor Works (Bayerische Motoren Werke) CANOLA (oil) – CANada Oil, Low… Read More ›
Extirpation
If an animal goes to sleep during cold periods it is called hibernation. If an animal goes to sleep during hot periods it is called estivation. Because climate and geography influence language there is often not a word for both of them… Read More ›
Most popular passwords in 2017
I am sure I am not alone in hating all the passwords one has to remember these days. Every single site I use regularly seems to require registration. And then there is the dilemma – same password for everything? (easy… Read More ›
Spotted Richard
I see the House of Commons has changed the name of their Spotted Dick to Spotted Richard, in order to avoid embarrassing people. The etymology of Spotted Dick Whilst the first part of the name is self-apparent – the dessert… Read More ›
Football or soccer?
On Thursday, to commemorate the start of the 2018 Football World Cup, Sweden’s Aftonbladet newspaper dropped 4373 footballs over a central Stockholm square, to commemorate (!) that it has been 4373 days since Sweden has played in a men’s Football… Read More ›
