Forget Thanksgiving, New Year’s, and Fourth of July—for some people, no other holiday comes close to Halloween. For those who are all about “spooky season,” they’re breaking out the pumpkin spice and brainstorming creepy costumes at the first hint of fall. But are those who savor the haunting side of this holiday all about the terror that ghosts and skeletons bring? Or is it horror …
Both English and German are Germanic languages. Maybe that explains why we find the German language to be so wunderbar! English has borrowed quite a few words from the choice land of Deutschland, and there is a good reason for it. In German, a speaker can put two unrelated words next to each other and create a novel compound word, so you don’t have to …
Your coworker has gotten a raise, and it bothers you because you really wish you’d gotten one, too. Is what you’re feeling jealousy or envy? The two feelings are similar, but the words are often used to convey slightly different things, mainly involving whether the feeling is hostile or malicious. In this article, we’ll discuss the similarities and differences between jealousy and envy, including the …
Glass half full, or glass half empty? Looking on the bright side, or expecting the worst? Rose-colored glasses, or Murphy’s law? The words optimistic and pessimistic are opposites used in the context of people’s general outlooks or their sense of whether a situation will turn out positively or negatively. In this article, we’ll define both words—as well as the related nouns optimism, optimist, pessimism, and …
When you’re sad about the loss of a person, a pet, or even an item, it can feel like there are no words to describe those feelings. Emotions take over and melancholy sets in. But after that initial reaction, when the feelings start to subside, do you tell others you were grieving or bereaving that loss? Let’s explore the differences between these two mournful words. What does …
Ever been worried, apprehensive, or even panicky at times? Yes? We thought so. We all have. Suddenly, you feel a knot in your throat, your heart starts pounding, you’re short of breath, shaky, drenched in sweat, and a bit dizzy. Brace yourself. Your body’s fight-or-flight response is switched on and is quickly taking over. You are in survival mode. We hope there are no imminent dangers or …
