The Arabic aphorism “Likulli maqāmin maqālun” means “for every place, there is a [proper] remark”: the linguistic etiquette that each occasion necessitates a specific wording, or choice of words. We ...

A new History Snob feature explores the surprising origins of three familiar phrases — “break the ice,” “bite the bullet,” and “spill the beans.” Each began with a literal meaning tied to historical ...

My cousin Theresa was in Tower One when the first plane hit, so any discussion of 9/11 brings with it deep emotions that often make cool reasoning difficult or impossible. Truth be told, I have mixed ...

Discusses the importance of interpreting what you read by identifying both stated and unstated meanings. It explores concepts such as connotation versus denotation, assumptions, and figurative ...

Given below is an excerpt from a news story: “A textile shop owner in Kerala recently gifted Rs500 to each of his employees after Sanju Samson played a key role in helping India qualify for the ...