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SEMANTIC ENIGMAS Why do we not hear of rural, only urban, myths? It seems to me that a myth is just as likely to originate in the country as in a town or city. In fact, to use a word I have just invented (although some smartypants like Jack Hill might disagree), myths are surely isotopographic. I believe I may have raised this query before, but so long ago that I am not now sure. Who knows, and against all expectations, my query might get published and Jack Hill can get his revenge. One day maybe, one day. (no answers) Who was the schoolboy who coined the excuse, "My dog ate my homework?" Where is he today? Is he a lawyer? A politician? (no answers) Recently in a trailer for a series of films a TV station repeatedly used the term motherload. What is a motherload? (no answers) Where did the frightful 'BBC accent' come from - and when was it introduced? (no answers) 'Our editors will select the best queries and answers posted, and these should appear on the site within a few days.' Do these words constitute the emptiest promise ever posted on a website? (no answers) Do people who pronounce 'th' as 'f' or 'v' do so from choice or are they unable to pronounce it properly? Also those who say 'w' instead of 'l' and 'r' - choice or genuine inability? (no answers) What is the longest word you can pronounce using only the sounds of letters? Obvious ones are RT (arty), NTT (entity) FEG (effigy), etc. The longest (in terms of number of letters used) I've got so far is OBCT. (no answers) The abbreviation of opus is op.; why then, since the plural is opera, is its abbreviation opp.? (no answers) When should something be furthest and when should it be farthest? Are both acceptable? (no answers) Why is "queue" spelled thus? Shouldn't it be just "que"? (4 answers) What is a sandboy and why are they happy? (3 answers) 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? (3 answers) Who first used the uttterly brilliant word 'unputdownable'? (2 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). (3 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? (6 answers) Why is orange "orange" and not "carrot"? (11 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? (3 answers) Why "stoned" for the state induced by some drugs? (4 answers) Why do you 'throw' a party? (5 answers)  |
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