Wordplay: For the Love of Language | Merriam-Webster

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The Opposite of Déjà Vu

When the familiar becomes unrecognizable

Why do we say 'head over heels'?

The original version made more sense

The Words of the Week - Feb. 20

Lookups from the Winter Olympics, Islam, and the Sierra Nevadas

When do we paint the town red?

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

17 Words for Dog Breeds

If you love dogs and words, you’re barking up the right tree

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

We’ve seen fire, we’ve seen rain, and we have many words for them

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

And why isn't it 'bury the lead'?

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

10 words expert players use

Word Choices

Gabrielle Zevin

Emily Flake

New Yorker Cartoonist

Celeste Ng

Eli Cymet

Video Game Writer/Producer, Cuphead

Emma Straub

Novelist and Children’s Book Author

Arts & Culture

What's so extra about 'extra-virgin'?

The technical vocabulary hiding in your kitchen cabinet

12 Words and Phrases for Romantic Relationships

This list warms the cockles of our hearts

Where does the expression 'throw someone under the bus' come from?

Let's blame the British

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups

We know you're going to look these up

Where does the phrase 'barn burner' come from?

This one's pretty exciting

Foreign

All About Latin Plurals

Check your dictionary

17 English Words That Come From Japanese

Some borrowed words don't get returned

Alcohol & Algebra: Common Words from Arabic

Number 4 might scare you

Schadenfreude and Other German Words Without Translation

Accept no substitutes

10 English Words from Dutch

Learn how to tell your caboodle from your caboose

Games & Hobbies

Why Is the Sport Called ‘Pickleball’?

The origin story is clearer than most sports

A Player's Guide to 'Q' without 'U' Words

Remember this and win.

These Are Fighting Words

Common terms that come from boxing and wrestling

Winning Scrabble Words for Everyday People

You don't have to be a pro to play these words.

Know Your Baseball Idioms

'Southpaw,' 'can of corn,' and other phrases

Science & Nature

7 Luscious, Fruit-Based Idioms

For a touch of sweetness or acidity

12 Pairs of Commonly Confused Animal Words

The animal words went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah!

7 Common Idioms That Come from Chickens

Don't ask us which came first

12 Bird Names that Sound Like Compliments

From the godwits at your favorite dictionary

Amber, Auburn, Crimson and Other Colorful Words for Autumn Foliage

Peep these leaves.

Word History

Why do we say 'wear your heart on your sleeve'?

The answer may come from medieval jousts

The Hairy History of 'Sideburns'

Lousy general. Amazing hair.

Quick: Read This!

'Quick' once had a very different meaning

What does 'at large' mean?

A holdover of an ancient meaning

Eavesdrop, Fiasco, and 8 More Words with Surprising Origins

Including some trivia on ‘trivia’