Cigars don't just emit acrid smoke that seem to latch onto your clothes — they've also spawned some similarly sticky idioms in the English language. …
Why Do We Say, 'Close, But No Cigar' and Other Weird Sayings?
The world is full of weird sayings and phrases. But why do we say them and where do they come from? Learn the origin and meaning behind phrases like "close, but no cigar," why we say "bless you" when people sneeze, and phrases grandma used to swear in her day.
Grandma and Grandpa might seem awfully buttoned-up, but back in the day they could curse like crazy, too. The thing is, they used different words and …
If you grew up any time in the last 50 years in the U.S., the phrase "dibs" will be a memory that brings up either pain or pleasure, depending on …
What's missing from, "if it ain't _____, don't fix it?" Correct Answer Wrong Answer English teachers the world over cringe at the word, "ain't," but in …
It's pretty amazing that some of the common proverbs and expressions we use date back 2,000 or 3,000 years ago. Many come from ancient Greece and …
Many people have become accustomed to saying "bless you" or "gesundheit" when someone sneezes. No one says anything when someone coughs, blows their …
It could happen for any number of reasons. Maybe you notice a big spider crawling out of your empty shoe, find a hair in the food you're served at a …