1661 syndrome
n.— «Carole Malone mentioned the 1661 syndrome—where men think you’re attractive from the back (16)…and then back off when they see your face (61). This issue is supposed to affect all women over the age of probably 35.» —by Euphrosene Labon Delusions of Divinity? (United Kingdom) Jan. 25, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
The words tough, through, and dough all end in O-U-G-H. So why don’t they rhyme? A lively new book addresses the many quirks of English by explaining the history of words and phrases. And: have you ever been in a situation where a group makes...
A flashlight doesn’t flash. It provides a steady beam of light. So why is it called a flashlight? The earliest versions lit up only briefly before the batteries gave out and required a recharge, so they were literally “flash lights...