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Here’s Where Your Favorite Slang Words Actually Came From

Legit Most people may think this word originated with MC Hammer after he released his 1991 hit, “2 Legit 2 Quit,” but it actually showed up during the later half of the 19th century in theater groups....

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The Surprising Meaning Behind These 8 Really Weird Words

Yes… Even prairie dogs do it. The post The Surprising Meaning Behind These 8 Really Weird Words appeared first on Reader's Digest.

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9 Everyday Idioms You’re Getting Wrong

What is an idiom? If you’re going to live in the United States or converse with English speakers, you’ll need to master our most commonly used idioms. What’s an idiom, you ask? Google.com’s handy...

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10 Words That Mean the Opposite of What They Used to Mean

Awful Current meaning: Very unpleasant Original meaning: Inspiring wonder, as in “full of awe.” Here are 15 more words that have completely changed meaning over time. The post 10 Words That Mean the...

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15 Words That Have Just Been Added to the Scrabble Dictionary

Qapik “Qapik” is a variant of “gopik.” That’s just a type of Azerbaijan money. No need to remember that, but you should memorize “qapik” to help your Scrabble game. If you draw the “Q” tile, you don’t...

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10 Commonly Misused Words You Need to Stop Getting Wrong

You think it means Clearly true or real; clearly stated Incorrect use: My boss gave a definitive no to my idea for a start-up centered around the Sprocket—a Spring Roll/Hot Pocket hybrid. The post 10...

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10 Amazing Words We No Longer Use (But Should!)

Brabble Whether you’re discussing politics or wrangling small children, the word “brabble” could still find plenty of use in today’s society. Meaning “to argue stubbornly about trifles” or, in noun...

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The Real Reason Some English Words Have Silent Letters

The rogue knight doubted that the asthmatic knave in knickers could climb the castle columns, but when their wrangle wrought chaos on the couple, the knight resigned with the knowledge that their...

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The One Word You Need Permission to Use in the United Kingdom

As any Anglophile knows, while the British royal family enjoys worldwide stardom and some seriously awesome perks, they don’t actually have much in the way of governing power. Yet it’s thanks to them...

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Weird Facts About 7 Punctuation Marks You See Everywhere

# has a name you’d never guess Depending on when you were born, you probably know the # symbol as either a pound sign, number sign, 
or for the Twitter junkies among us, 
a hashtag. Turns out, none of...

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Here Is the Hardest Word to Guess in Hangman, According to Science

It’s a rainy day in the 1500s, and the King’s Justice slides a noose around your neck. He tightens it, steps around the wobbly stool beneath your feet and looks you square in the eye. “I’m thinking of...

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10 Fancy Words That Make You Sound Smarter

Toss: Rant or argument Try: Diatribe, meaning a nasty (and usually lengthy) tirade, whether spoken or written. Are you prone to diatribes when you’re upset? Because they are the perfect excuse to use...

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Can You Tell If These Funny Words Are Real or Made Up?

Tupacase Is this a real word? The post Can You Tell If These Funny Words Are Real or Made Up? appeared first on Reader's Digest.

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25 Words That Can Make You Instantly Funnier

Don’t say Run away Ex.: We camped in line for the new iPhone all night, but finally absquatulated when the wolves came out. The post 25 Words That Can Make You Instantly Funnier appeared first on...

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6 Romantic Words with No English Equivalent

Saudade Pronunciation: saw•’dah•djee Origin: Portugese Definition: n., a strong feeling of missing someone you love. This may be one of the most romantic words ever spoken. The post 6 Romantic Words...

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14 of the Toughest Tongue Twisters in the English Language

Pulled cod “Pad kid poured curd pulled cod.” A team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology say that this is the most difficult tongue twister in the world. Can you say it ten times...

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11 Words and Phrases That Don’t Mean What You Think They Do

The truth about fireflies Starting with the insects: Fireflies are not flies but flying beetles with luminous tails, and glow-worms are closely related to them, being the larvae of four different kinds...

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50 Funny Town Names from Each of the 50 States

Burnt Corn, Alabama Funny town names that have to do with food, like this Alabama town, are the coolest. There are a few legends about how Burnt Corn got its name. Some say settlers burned the Indians’...

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These 13 2018 Dictionary Additions Are the Hardest Words to Spell and Pronounce

Latinx Looking for gender-neutral pronouns and designations? There’s a new cultural wave looking to help with gender inclusivity in language. The adjective relating to Latin American heritage was...

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10 Trendy Words You Throw Around But Probably Don’t Understand

Dystopia There is plenty of dystopian fiction in these 10 young adult novels grown-ups secretly love. In real life, however, the term “dystopia” has been thrown around a lot lately as a descriptor for...

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