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Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

0 posted 2008-02-29 01:18 PM

I have too much time on my hands and started thinking about these. Like, for instance:

Why is it a good thing if a vacuum really sucks?

Why is the third hand on our watch called the second hand?

If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?

Or why do they call them tug boats, they push the barges?

Well, you get the idea, have you ever wondered about any of them? Probably not. If you did, then let's hear yours?

skyshine

Member Elite

since 2002-02-07

Posts 3058
Beneath the northern stars

1 posted 2008-02-29 04:31 PM

In response to the dictionary question:
http://www.snopes.com/language/mistakes/dord.asp

I can't believe they did that.

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

2 posted 2008-02-29 08:00 PM

Wow! How about that!

Roniece Dawson-Bruce
Member Ascendant

since 2000-01-29

Posts 5689
Sydney, Australia

3 posted 2008-03-01 04:07 AM

well... I've always wondered why they call it 'tennis elbow' when really, it has nothing to do with tennis?

RDB

Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight.........

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

4 posted 2008-03-01 12:19 PM

I have always wondered if all the world is a stage, then where the heck is the audience sitting?

sandgrain
Member Elite

since 1999-09-21

Posts 3662
Sycamore, IL, USA

5 posted 2008-03-01 03:31 PM

Yeah, no cottage in cottage cheese either.
I used to tell my kids one of them was going to rewrite the dictionary spelling all words just like they sound.  My encouragement wasn't motivation enough, I guess.
I love crossword puzzles with words like, bond, related, rib, shop, type, pelt and so many others that may be nouns or verbs with varied meanings.
Sharon, you'll get a good laugh reading all about the word "up" in your dictionary.
Open up, close up, eat up, throw up, back up, get up, sit up, dry up, back up, put up, heat up, buy up, clean up, dirtied up, write up, mess up, wash up, spatter up, etc.

  Rae

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