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SEMANTIC ENIGMAS Why is "queue" spelled thus? Shouldn't it be just "que"? (4 answers) What is a sandboy and why are they happy? (one answer) When you learn a new word, you will invariably see that word everywhere over the next few weeks. I once came across the word for this phenomenon but then never saw it again! Please could you tell me what that word is? (2 answers) Who first used the uttterly brilliant word 'unputdownable'? (no answers) Arigato in Japanese and obrigado in Portuguese. Are these words related? I know the Portuguese once had a strong influence on Japan, including the use of loan words, for example tempura and igirisu (Enlish). (no answers) What is the difference between a boat and a ship? (9 answers) Why do some English words have the same singular and plural? Examples are mostly animals - deer, fish, moose, sheep, swine, buffalo - but also aircraft, stone (weight), head (cattle). Is it related to the Norman/ Saxon divide noted in Ivanhoe? (5 answers) Why is orange "orange" and not "carrot"? (9 answers) My late uncle used to use the expression, 'Give it some Poll Thompson', meaning, 'hit it (him or her) hard'. Who was Poll(y) Thompson and whence this expression? (2 answers) Why "stoned" for the state induced by some drugs? (4 answers) Why do you 'throw' a party? (5 answers) Why isn't the word "primary" known as "firstry" when it is the level before "secondary"? (7 answers) Why are names and addresses "supplied" on anonymous letters published in publications? (3 answers) Has the art of people changing their name by Deed Poll had any effect on the domination or even extinction of some surnames? And if it has, would it have more or less the same effect when a woman gets married and she takes her husband's surname, children being adopted and so on? (2 answers) To be "well read", what must one have read? (10 answers) My granddad always referred to neck of lamb stew as "shackles". Does anyone out there no the origin of this term? (one answer) When did "awesome" become so ubiquitous as a term of approval in informal American English? And why? Please note, I'm not trying to be snotty or superior here - we have equally irritating habits ourselves, innit? (8 answers) Why is Bob your uncle? (6 answers) Why do we say 'Oh' sometimes rather than zero when saying numbers? Copey Royall (6.5 years old) (3 answers) Is there a suitable neologism for an item or items, in a modern eatery, which cost phonetically/numerically-related amounts to eat in or take away? For example, a coffee and sandwich might cost £3.90 (three pounds nine-ty) to eat in, or £3.19 (three pounds nine-teen) to take away. (3 answers)  |
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