T he Lottery ends with a famously disturbing plot twist, one that has provoked controversy since the instant it appeared in The New... Read More.

Y our mom might have used this saying to explain why you have to take your little brother when you go to the movies... Read More.

If you don't engage a book's symbolic language, you aren't getting half of what it has to offer. Like luggage, symbolism needs to be unpacked.... Read More

T he aphorism carpe diem was penned by the Roman poet Horace in 23 BCE, making it one of the oldest philosophical mottos in... Read More.

You could just say counter-clockwise. In a direction opposite to the usual. Or in a direction contrary to the apparent course of the sun. But that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun… now, would it? And not nearly as steeped in superstition. ... Read More

No, gobsmacked isn't a never-ending candy made by Willy Wonka. It's British slang. But, what is vernacular for? ... Read More

A verbivore might read the dictionary for fun. And they’re likely a fan of our Fun & Fancy Words section. Are you a verbivore? Find out here.... Read More

What do you call a bunch of pre-schoolers who are learning the alphabet? Abecedarians, of course. But there's more... find out how much.... Read More

Flying by the seat of your pants. What does this idiom mean? Where did it come from? And how far can doing so take you? ... Read More

Pulchritude might sound like something you’d scrape off your shoe, but pulchritudinous actually indicates something quite the opposite. Find out what it means here.... Read More