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folk etymology

Was the Word 'Hangover' Derived from Drunken Sailors Sleeping on Ropes?

Written by:
Alex Kasprak
Dec 23, 2022 The word has been in circulation since 1894.
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The word "False" is over a screenshot of a Twitter post that says, "The phrase “knocked up,” referring to pregnancy, originated with U.S. slavery. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the expression back to 1813. Back then the price of enslaved African women was “knocked up” by the auctioneer when she was pregnant—promoted as a deal for buyers."

No, the Phrase 'Knocked Up' Didn't Originate with Slavery

Written by:
Izz Scott LaMagdeleine
Feb 11, 2023 The earliest known usage of the term comes from a diary entry about a widow.
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glass of whisky on wooden table

Did the Phrase 'a Shot of Whiskey' Originate in the Old West?

Written by:
Kim LaCapria David Emery
Oct 14, 2017 Anecdotal reports say the expression "a shot of whiskey" came into being when cowboys traded bul ...
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cold turkey etymology

Etymology of 'Cold Turkey'

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson David Mikkelson
Mar 25, 2014 Did the slang phrase for kicking a habit all at once originate with a literal reference to a plu ...
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port out starboard home

Is the Word 'Posh' a Shortening of 'Port Out, Starboard Home'?

Written by:
Snopes Staff Barbara Mikkelson
Apr 14, 2010 "Posh" is a word now best understood as a descriptor of something elegant or stylishly luxurious.
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Looking up the etymology of phat

Etymology of 'Phat'

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson David Mikkelson
Jan 17, 2010 Does "phat" come from an acronym formed from "Pretty Hot And Tempting"?
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Etymology of 86

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson
Mar 9, 2009 Did the term '86' (to get rid of someone or something) enter the English language as part of a r ...
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holy smoke

Etymology of 'Holy Smoke'

Written by:
Snopes Staff Barbara Mikkelson
Apr 19, 2005 Does the exclamation "holy smoke" derive from the burning of the ballots used to elect a Pope?
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Etymology of Strawberry

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson
Oct 4, 2003 Are strawberries so named because they are bedded in straw?
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Is tIs the word tip an acronym for To Insure Promptness or To Insure Performance.

The Origins of Tipping

Written by:
Snopes Staff Barbara Mikkelson
Jan 16, 2003 Does the word "tip" derive from the acronymic form of the phrase "To Insure Promptness" or "To I ...
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A small gun on a table.

Etymology of Son of a Gun

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson
Sep 6, 2002 The disputed etymology of 'son of a gun.'
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The Etymology of 'Shit'

Written by:
Snopes Staff Barbara Mikkelson
Aug 13, 2002 Was the word "shit" formed from an acronym of 'Ship High in Transit'?
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What Does Pumpernickel Mean?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
May 19, 2001 Is pumpernickel bread named after a horse? Does it translate to 'devil's fart'? So many breadcru ...
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Stack of newspapers showing News header

Etymology of 'News'

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Apr 26, 2001 The English word 'news' is said to derive from an acronym formed from the words 'north,' east,' ...
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Etymology of the F-Word

Written by:
Barbara Mikkelson David Mikkelson
Jul 12, 1999 Did the word "fuck" originate as an acronym of the phrase "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge"?
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