About: Pearson

Are you looking at the most attractive woman in the room? You could call her the ‘Belle of the ball.’ This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘Belle of the ball’ means the most attractive woman in the room or at an event. The ‘Belle of the ball’ will […]

Did your boss tell you you're 'behind the eight ball' on a project? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'behind the eight ball' means that you're in a challenging position that's difficult to escape. If you can't find a solution or there is no obvious way to solve […]

Have you heard the word "antebellum" used in connection with the southern United States, and are you wondering what it means? This posts takes a deeper look at the origins, meaning, and current controversy around the word antebellum. ​Meaning The English word antebellum comes from the Latin language. "Ante" means "before", and "bellum" means "war". […]

The terms 'serendipity' and 'serendipitous' are common on social media, and might even be something that you've encountered in an article, movie or book. If you need more context to the words and how to use these terms correctly, this post unpacks the meaning and origin of 'serendipity' and tells you how to use it […]

Did your boss ask you to get the ball rolling on a project? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'ball rolling' has several formats. You could 'get the ball rolling' or 'keep the ball rolling.' The ball refers to an activity, action, or conversation, and 'rolling' describes taking […]

Have you seen the term 'material girl' somewhere on a social media website like TikTok or Instagram and hope to understand this common reference? The term 'material girl' is a mild insult, one that refers to girls and women who might be seen as “gold diggers” by others. This post unpacks the meaning and origin […]

Did your boss tell you your colleague went ‘AWOL’ and you have to work the weekend? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this acronym. Meaning The acronym ‘AWOL’ stands for ‘Absent Without Leave.’ It’s a military term describing a member of the armed forces who takes leave from their post without the proper […]

Have you seen anyone with (or references to) white nails on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube? White nails are believed by some users to be part of a secret relationship code, while others don't buy into the hype. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of white-painted nails on social media. Meaning […]

Are you finished making your point in an argument? You could tell the other person that the 'ball's in your court' to ask them for their response. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'the ball's in your court' means the initiative action now lies with another party after […]