In the scientific sense, inertia is the tendency for things to continue doing what they’re doing, like staying in motion. But the common meaning of inertia almost always refers to the tendency to do nothing, making inertia something that must be...
If you’ve accomplished something, be proud! But is it condescending to say you’re proud of someone when you had nothing to do with their success? A listener worries that the meaning of the word proud includes a sense of ownership. This is part of a...
The word peruse is such a confusing term that it’s best to avoid it entirely. Some English speakers were taught it means “to read casually,” while others were taught exactly the opposite. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
Hoodwink, meaning to deceive, goes back to a very literal kind of “putting something over” someone. Thieves in markets might throw a cloak or other covering over a victim’s head before robbing them, leaving the person unable to see. The wink part...