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language in culture

How Language Changes When You’re Talking to Grandma vs. Google
How Language Changes When You’re Talking to Grandma vs. Google
What Language Do Bilinguals Dream In?
What Language Do Bilinguals Dream In?
Why Swearing Sounds Different in Every Language
Why Swearing Sounds Different in Every Language
Why Some Languages Don’t Have a Word for “Left” or “Right”
Why Some Languages Don’t Have a Word for “Left” or “Right”
The Secret Meanings of Silence Across Cultures
The Secret Meanings of Silence Across Cultures
How Colors Shape Language and Perception
How Colors Shape Language and Perception
Language and Humor: What’s Funny in One Culture but Not in Another
Language and Humor: What’s Funny in One Culture but Not in Another
The Unexpected Power of Saying “Sorry” Around the World
The Unexpected Power of Saying “Sorry” Around the World
Why Emoji Are Basically Becoming Their Own Language
Why Emoji Are Basically Becoming Their Own Language

why we say that

The Surprising Origins of “Let the Cat Out of the Bag”
The Surprising Origins of “Let the Cat Out of the Bag”
Why “Pulling Someone’s Leg” Used to Be Way More Sinister
Why “Pulling Someone’s Leg” Used to Be Way More Sinister
Why Do We Say “Break the Ice”? (And What Did Ice Ever Do to Us?)
Why Do We Say “Break the Ice”? (And What Did Ice Ever Do to Us?)
Where Did “Spill the Beans” Come From—And Was It Ever About Food?
Where Did “Spill the Beans” Come From—And Was It Ever About Food?
Why We Say “Caught Red-Handed” (Hint: It’s Literal)
Why We Say “Caught Red-Handed” (Hint: It’s Literal)
Who Came Up with “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”?
Who Came Up with “Barking Up the Wrong Tree”?
Why Do We Say “Sleep Tight”?
Why Do We Say “Sleep Tight”?
The Real Meaning Behind “Close But No Cigar”
The Real Meaning Behind “Close But No Cigar”
How “Three Sheets to the Wind” Became a Synonym for Drunk
How “Three Sheets to the Wind” Became a Synonym for Drunk
Where “Burning the Midnight Oil” Comes From
Where “Burning the Midnight Oil” Comes From
The Curious Origins of “Under the Weather”
The Curious Origins of “Under the Weather”
What Does “Rule of Thumb” Really Mean?
What Does “Rule of Thumb” Really Mean?
Why We Say “Saved by the Bell”—Hint: It’s Darker Than You Think
Why We Say “Saved by the Bell”—Hint: It’s Darker Than You Think
What’s the Deal with “Biting the Bullet”?
What’s the Deal with “Biting the Bullet”?
Why Do We Say “Kick the Bucket”? (And Was a Bucket Actually Involved?)
Why Do We Say “Kick the Bucket”? (And Was a Bucket Actually Involved?)

how to sound smarter

The One Word That Makes Every Argument Sound More Intelligent
The One Word That Makes Every Argument Sound More Intelligent
Small Tweaks to Your Word Choice That Instantly Level Up Your Emails
Small Tweaks to Your Word Choice That Instantly Level Up Your Emails
10 Fancy Words That Make You Sound Smart—But Aren’t Pretentious
10 Fancy Words That Make You Sound Smart—But Aren’t Pretentious
How to Replace “Very” with Words That Actually Mean Something
How to Replace “Very” with Words That Actually Mean Something

weird words

Words That Look Dirty But Aren’t
Words That Look Dirty But Aren’t