Category: Phrases

Did your friend just ask you to order them a 'Venti' from Starbucks? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this term. Meaning The expression 'Venti' is Italian for 'twenty.' A 'Venti' coffee at Starbucks contains 24 ounces of coffee. It's part of the cup rating system used by Starbucks to help customers select […]

Did someone tell you your suit looks tacky? It might be time to buy a new one. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'tacky' means a person with vulgar manners or poor posture and behavior around others. It also refers to a lack of style or something looking […]

Asking someone where there are headed is a pretty common thing to do. Be it a friend, loved one, or even just a random person. If you are interested in adding a bit of flair to the question, “Quo vadis” is a great way to do it. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of […]

Are you looking for a way to display your passion for your partner? You could call her 'cara mia.' This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'cara mia' translates from Italian to 'my beloved' in English. It's a term of endearment said by a man to their partner. 'Cara […]

Did you receive an invitation for a 'sneak peek' at the new BMW model? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression 'sneak peek' means you get a brief glimpse at something currently unavailable to the general public. The term can apply to products like shoes or cars. It ca […]

Are you looking for a quirky way to say goodbye to someone? You could say ‘konnichiwa’ as an alternate farewell. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘konnichiwa’ is a Japanese greeting commonly used as ‘good morning’ or ‘good afternoon.’ However, most Japanese people use ‘konnichiwa’ as a way […]

Did your friend tell you to invest your money in ‘safe haven’ assets during the recession? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘safe haven’ means a location acting as a refuge where people can go to avoid persecution or trouble. It also describes an immigration term defining a […]

Did someone tell you their girlfriend deserves the Scarlet Letter? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘the Scarlet Letter’ comes from an old story of a woman ostracized by her community for committing adultery and bearing a child from the relationship. She was forced to wear the scarlet […]

Did a friend invite you over to play ‘Ragnarok?’ This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘Ragnarok’ comes from old Norse Mythology. The official spelling is ‘Ragnarök (/ˈræɡnəˌrɒk, ˈrɑːɡ-/) or ‘Ragnarǫk.’ However, the English spelling doesn’t require using the accents in the ‘o.’ In Norse Mythology, Ragnarok is described […]

Did your friend exclaim 'ce la vie' after you gave him some bad news? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression. Meaning The expression ‘ce la vie’ is an incorrect spelling of the term ‘c’est la vie.’ Both terms mean the same thing, translating to 'that's life' in English. The English lexicon […]