Posts

Where does the word nerd come from? Difference between a geek and a nerd?

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nerd nəːd/ noun informal:  a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious. Single minded, expert:  "I was a serious nerd until I discovered girls and cars" synonyms : bore, dull person;  "a computer nerd"

What is a curveball?

In American English a curveball is a deceptive or unexpected action which poses a new challenge e.g. He threw a curveball by threatening to walk out of the meeting.  

Which Irish words have passed down into English?

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I was born into an Irish family living in London. This has left me with an Irish name, an English voice and an extra trove of words and phrases that have passed down from the Irish language.

Irish English: What is a gossoon?

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gossoon  Irish    a  boy  [C17:   from   Old   French   gararçon ]

Where does the word #hashtag come from?

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Hashtags are the # symbols used on Twitter and other social media, like Instagram and Facebook.

What does inside baseball mean?

Inside baseball  is a term popular with political and media analysts.

What is the 'be all and end all'? Where does it come from?

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The 'be-all-and-end-all' is now used to refer to a decisive life-changing event. It is usually used in the negative e.g. Your exams are important but are not the be-all-and-all.

What is schmutter?

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schmutter [ˈʃmʌtə]  noun

Where does the word OK come from?

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The word OK entered American English in the 19th century and is now one of the most popular in the language. But there is little agreement as to its origins.

What is an octothorpe?

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In the 1960s engineers at Bell Labs were designing the first touch keyboard telephones.

How did Japanese words enter the English language?

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Oxford English Dictionary editor, John Simpson, explains how Japanese words entered English in three distinct historical phases.

Which American term did Sergeant Pepper introduce to Britain?

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What is a rookie? Where does the word come from?

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A rookie is someone new to a particular situation or recently promoted to a higher level of competition or responsibility.