957. We trace the linguistic history behind "house" and "mansion" to uncover how these two humble words for dwellings grew... more

956. How did terms like "stereotype," "boilerplate," and "typecast" make the leap from specialist printing vocabulary to widespread figurative language?... more

955. This week, we're looking at the history behind "Black Friday" and other black idioms, plus what happens when the... more

954. "Irregardless" isn’t going away anytime soon. Take a deep breath while we dig into this hated word’s history. And... more

953. In honor of Veterans Day, Ben Yagoda tells us tales of military words that marched from the British lexicon... more

952. What is the boundary between idioms, slang, and clichés—and should we give "adulting" a break? We also trace the... more

951. What's the difference between terror and horror? Why was the word for "bear" so scary that it is lost... more

950. Nowthen, a town with an odd little name, helps us understand the word "namesake," and then I have some... more

949. Topic sentences aren't just for students! We have real-life, grown-up examples to help you write better business proposals, blog... more

948. Would you believe "bully" once meant "lover" and "nice" meant "ignorant"? Join me as we explore the surprising twists... more