An interrobang is a punctuation mark that consists of an exclamation point and a question mark superimposed on top of one another. You may never have heard of an interrobang, but it was first introduced in the 1960s and continues to add both a questioning and surprised tone to sentences …
Malarkey means foolish talk, nonsense. Malarkey, sometimes spelled as malarky, is an American word. The exact etymology of the word malarkey is unknown. Many assume malarkey is an Irish-American word that is somehow related to the Irish surname, Mullarkey, but a direct link is yet to be established. In any …
A smartphone is a mobile phone that not only functions as a telephone but also as a miniature computer, featuring messaging, internet access, camera, GPS, etc. Smartphones generally use touchscreen technology. The idea of a smartphone was proposed by Nikola Tesla, however the first true smartphones didn’t show up until …
Rambunctious means overly exuberant, unruly, extremely boisterous. Rambunctious is first seen in print in Boston, Massachusetts in 1830 spelled as rumbunctious, probably derived from an earlier word, rumbustious, which means boisterous or turbulent. An alternative explanation is that rambunctious is derived from the prefix ram-, which intensifies the meaning of …
A car hood is the metal part that covers the engine of an automobile. The term car hood is a North American term, used primarily in America and Canada. Hood comes from the Old English word hod which means a hood, a soft covering for the head. Interestingly, hood is …
A worrywart is a person who unduly dwells upon the possibility of trouble or difficulties. Worrywart is the preferred spelling, though worry wart is rendered as two words about a third of the time. Worrywart is an American term which comes from a comic strip character named Worry Wart which …
If you’ve found yourself in an uncertain situation and don’t have a clear idea of what comes next, you might describe the event as being a toss-up concerning your next move. Obviously, to toss something up is an action describing the literal throwing of something upwards. But in this article, …
The English language is full of words derived from sounds or descriptions of items and events. These words are often humorous or ironic but can be confusing to English language learners. Bloopers are a blunder of words or actions named after the oscillating feedback created by radio interference, called a …
A chick flick is a motion picture that appeals mainly to women by virtue of its theme, plot and actors. Usually, a chick flick deals with emotional or romantic themes. The term chick flick is concocted from the word chick, which is a slang term for woman, and flick, which …
What does the word kaleidoscope mean? No, it’s not just a hit new T.V. show on Netflix. It’s actually a really old invention from the 1800s that we still use today as a toy and an educational tool. But it’s got a ton of other uses and meanings, so let’s …