Wordplay

Word History

Where does 'curiosity killed the cat' come from?

No cats were harmed in the making of this idiom

Why do we call it a 'pipe dream'?

Hint: 19th century drug use

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Why do we say 'get out of Dodge'?

It refers to a real place

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

Sort of!

Why do we say 'make a beeline'?

Yes, it does involve bees

How long is a jiffy?

It depends who you ask

When do we paint the town red?

It may have begun with a literal paint job (but probably didn’t)

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?

And should we beware?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?

Did they ever sell fleas?

The Origin of O'clock

The apostrophe that ate a whole word

The Origins of Daredevil

Hint: they've been around for a while

Why is the letter ‘Z’ associated with sleeping?

A cartoon origin story

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

Why not both?

What Does 'Wi-Fi' Really Mean?

It’s probably not what you think

What Does 'QR Code' Stand For?

Not all abbreviations are as complex as they seem.

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Skibidi! Mog!! Rizz!!!

Words That Turned 100 in 2025

Happy Birthday to our Centenarians

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

Heads up: one is 'vulgar'

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You

They all use this one weird trick (etymology)

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Words With Remarkable Origins, Vol. 2

What does 'at large' mean?

A holdover of an ancient meaning

Much Ado about ‘Folie à deux’

From French psychiatry to the silver screen
1 of 6