Knowledge of the Origins of Words and Phrases
(I did this one once before on a military type site and you wouldn’t believe those who DIDN’T know!) What is the origin and meaning of: "Cold enough to freeze the balls off of a brass monkey"? (This is NOT a "dirty" or "nasty" question!) -answer is factual- file under ‘Fun Facts [...]
Do text messages have regional differences?
There seem to be fairly standardised abbreviations used in texting but do regions abbreviate their own colloquialisms between, say, Scots users and other Scots users?
What does the expression "any which way but loose" mean?
I wonder how you would use that expression, and where it comes from.NB, it’s also the title of that movie where Clint Eastwood stars alongside that orang utan (Clyde).
Which is the best online etymological dictionary in your experience?
I have been using:
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php
It’s good if a trifle american. Prefer a really good english English version. The more detailed and academic the better.
Any ideas?
Explain "head over heels" to me!
Me old mucker Merriam-Webster writes:"Main Entry: head over heelsFunction: adverb1 a : in or as if in a somersault : HELTER-SKELTER b : UPSIDE DOWN2 : very much : DEEPLY <head over heels in love>"OK, I don’t get it. After all, when your head is over your heels, everything is normal and along the [...]
What’s the original Spanish translation of "He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies …"?
An illustrious citation by Dr. Samuel Johnson goes thus:*** "As the Spanish proverb says, "He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies, must carry the wealth of the Indies with him." So it is in travelling; a man must carry knowledge with him, if he would bring home knowledge."***I would like to know [...]
Why have the english made our language so complicated ?
We have one word that in said in differant contexts means 2 or 3 differant meanings why ?why do we have verbs, adjectives, context’s ect its just so confusing
Stash the hash, here comes the judge! Where DID that phrase come from?
-Probably USA. In the glorious 60s most likely. California?
Who coined the phrase?
Was it in a book? A magazine? Film?
All donations gratefully accepted!
Countries mentioned in this Post: United States
How did the slogan "rules OK" originate?
As in "punk rules OK" or "Fulchester FC rules OK".I understand what it means, I just wonder how that particular phrasing came about. Thanks.
Where is the archives of the Egyptian Gazette especially from 1948 to 2000 available?
I am researching the language of the newspaper, especially the language of the articles about Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For this researching purpose, I am searching for the articles inthe Egyptian Gazette from 1948 to 2000.
Why is the English language lacking the myriad of radiantly descriptive words available in conversation?
There are many words which are used on an every-day basis, but there are even more which perform the function of many of these every-day words that are not used. Is this because of a lack of knowledge, or is it because the language has been dumbed-down?
Regards…
Who wrote this poem?
How sleep the brave who sink to restBy all their country’s wishes blest!When Spring, with dewey fingers cold,Returns to deck their hallowed mould,She there shall dress a sweeter sodThan Fancy’s feet have ever trod.
By fairy hands their knell is rung, (the deathnell slow ringing of a church bell)By forms unseen their dirge is sung; (the [...]
Can you really learn Klingon in some American colleges?
Still thinking about invented languages – is it true that they teach Klingon in America, or is that a weird rumour put about to discredit higher education in America?
Why are biscuits called ‘digestive’? I think they are in the family of what we call plain old ‘cookies’ in the US.
I sort of feel a small twinge of impending indigestion whenever I come across the term digestive biscuits. At some point I think I gathered it is meant to be a cookie. Right? But why the adjective digestive?
Countries mentioned in this Post: United States
Local dialects or accents
In the UK there are at least fifteen regional dialects discernible to the seasoned listener. As an example, I could tell you if someone is from Portsmouth or Southampton and these cities are only seventeen miles apart.
Are regional dialects common in other countries and do you have lots of different accents? In addition do [...]
Why do people in the West Midlands insist on using words back to front in phrases?????
i.e.- Lend and Borrow – "Can oy lend a fiyver of yow?" as opposed to "Can I borrow a fiver of you"
Learn and Teach – "That will learn yow for playing with fire" as opposed to "That will teach you for playing with fire"
What does he say in the film Bedazzled?
In the Spanish/Columbian part of the film he says something that sounds like: ir-ass-ay-pee-uh. Any ideas what it translates as? (or perhaps the correct spelling lol)
Whence comes the following?
"With my left hand I speak lies and with my right hand I speak truths. You seek to know the answers and I will show you how to steal the truth but only if you see with your heart will I show you the lies."
Should elocution be taught in schools today?
There was a rather posh lady on the radio last night saying that the accent of her own town (Liverpool) was quite dreadful, and that elocution lessons should be reintroduced into schools so that people with broad accents don’t sound quite so ignorant.
Why and when was elocution dropped from the timetable (and was it included [...]
Is there a difference between the words "Bring"
Which is correct? Please bring your books with you or Please Take your books with you? I’m having a discussion about someone over the correct use of the words bring & take and no-one seems to be able to give a difinitive answer? Can anyone confirm this please?
Swear words…is it true that Rumanian has more swear words than any other language?
-This came up last night when we were idly chatting about how we English tend to use anatomical words and body parts as swear words – whereas Scandinavians use Biblical expressions and Devil references instead and rarely an anatomical expression.
Then someone said "Do you know that the Rumanian language has more swear words than any [...]
How many words are there in the English language that have three of the same vowels consecutively?
For example, playing on a Nintendo Wii could be said to be Wiiing. Are there any other words that similarly contain three of the same vowel lumped together?
What does "Babylon de pon me case" mean in patwa?
http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/mattafix_lyrics_4932/signs_of_a_struggle_lyric…
Me say tanks.
Is English the modern equivalent of Latin?
I mean Latin was once the language of learning throughout Europe and spoken in all countries by the educated. Is this analagous to the position of English in the world today?
Have you ever heard (or used) the epithet "la Grande Nation" with regards to France?
France is commonly referred to as "la Grande Nation" (translates itself, I think) in Germany, especially by journalists who have to think up lame synonyms for France. I wonder whether this locution is equally popular in English.And could you please suggest a popular epithet for France to me, you nation of shopkeepers, you?PS: [...]
Is it possible to learn a language in three months?
Hugo’s language courses are supposed to do that.http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/nf/Browse/BrowseStdPage/0,,247831,00.html ^This is not intended to be spam^
How does someone decide that a person they have just seen may/may not speak English?
I have sometimes been spoken to in languages that don’t even sound familiar and on the other end have had comments that I wouldn’t know English said to my face (which though slightly understandable still irritates me).So do you speak in what language comes naturally to you and hope they understand – or pick a [...]
Talevian
The Talevian Language is a constructed language created by K.M. Allen for personal and artistic reasons. Talevian was begun in 2002, and official indexing of dictionary entries began in 2003. While the dictionary contains over 3,000 entries as of 2008, the language is currently under development by the original creator.Allen, K.M. Personal Interview. 20 January [...]