Tag Archives: interest-artsentertainment

1. 

   ¡Diga! Do You Know These Spanish Words From “In The Heights”?

   By Mariel Jungkunz, Research Editor at Dictionary.com The long-awaited movie version of In the Heights—based on the hit Broadway musical—is in theaters and streaming. Everyone’s talking about it, and you’ve got questions. You might be wondering if you need to speak Spanish to understand its lyrics and many cultural references—and if so, you’ve come to the right place. Dictionary.com is collaborating with Lexico.com, an online Spanish dictionary and translator, to …

2. 

   Words You Didn’t Know Came From Los Angeles

   From its star-studded studios to its star-lined Walk of Fame, Los Angeles is a city that shines bright, literally and figuratively. There are few things that can’t be found within its sprawling, sunny city limits—it just might take a while to get there, depending on traffic.  Even if you’ve never visited, its influence is still apparent. Los Angeles’s films scream from our screens and its celebrities plaster …

3. 

   Why We Don’t Think Kylie Is “Self-Made”

   Well, it’s official. On March 5, Forbes declared makeup mogul and Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kylie Jenner the youngest self-made billionaire ever. The publication estimates that Jenner, 21, is sitting on a billion-dollar fortune following three successful years with her business, Kylie Cosmetics, including a lucrative deal with the beauty store Ulta that pushed her fortune to new heights. Of the deal’s success, Jenner told …

4. 

   Why Is Thursday Named For A Comic Book Character?

   Maybe you’ve read the comic books or seen some of the Marvel movies that feature a big blond guy named Thor, founding member of the Avengers and brother of Loki. But, Thursday is a bigger tribute to the Norse god of thunder than any movie or comic book upon which it’s based. After all, it is “Thor’s day.” Who is Thor? In Norse mythology, the original Thor …

5. 

   How Old Is The Word “Twerk”?

   The word twerk bounced its way into the universal consciousness of English speakers thanks to the controversial performance of Miley Cyrus at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Only a few days later, Oxford Dictionaries Online announced its quarterly update, listing twerk among the new additions (additions that had been planned months before “Twerkgate”). This led to public outcry against making this term “official.” As lexicographers …

6. 

   What’s The Word Problem At The Heart Of Mad Men?

   There has been much ado about the specific clothing, furniture, and products in the hit AMC series Mad Men. Of course, fans love the accurate details. The afternoon cocktails and elaborate dresses are a constant reminder of how much has changed since the 1960s. The show gets the set right, but what about the dialogue? Is the language on Mad Men accurate? Apparently not. There are …

7. 

   Is It Naughty Or Not? What “Burlesque” Actually Means

   Since interest in burlesque grew in the 2010s—and may have peaked with the release of the movie Burlesque starring Cher and Christina Aguilera—people have been curious to learn more about this type of dance. Is burlesque strictly performed in seedy venues? Is it just a fancy word for striptease? What is burlesque? Luckily for word enthusiasts, burlesque derives from a rich tradition and a compelling meaning. Traditionally, …