Language Questions and Answers

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View your most frequently asked questions on language. Our editors do the research to provide accurate answers to submitted questions.

What does "auld lang syne" actually mean?
During World War I, American Soldiers were referred to as "Doughboys." Why?
Why do we say some foods are healthy? They're healthful. If they were healthy, wouldn't they still be alive?
How often is a bimonthly meeting held?
Where can I find the phrase "Merry Christmas" in different languages?
Why is New York City called the Big Apple?
Just how many words do the Inuit have for snow?
What does the name "Hoosier" mean?
Why are policemen called "cops"?
What is the term for the carved decorative feminine figure found on the bow of wooden ships?
What's a Black Maria?
Do people actually speak Esperanto?
I am confused and hope that you can help. When I do an Internet search for "the die is cast" it comes up spelled two different ways: Iacta alea est and Jacta alea est (and for that matter Alea jacta est). How do I know which one is the correct derivation?
Could you tell me the origin of the phrase, "passing the buck?"
Is there a name for the plastic covering at the end of a shoelace?
I was doing a project on the state of California and I was wondering what the all the different languages spoken in California are?
What is the definition of a third world country and where did it come from? Are there first, second, and fourth world countries?
Can the abbreviations i.e. and e.g. be used interchangably? If not, why not? I have always used them to mean "as an example," or "for example".
What does the "p" in p-coat stand for?
What is the meaning of the abbreviation "sic"?

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Language Questions and Answers

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