This tag is for questions seeking a single word that fits a meaning. If you actually seek a phrase, or don't care, see the "phrase requests" tag too.
99
votes
9answers
8k views
Is there a word or phrase for the feeling you get after looking at a word for too long?
(Perhaps this only happens to me, but I doubt it.)
Sometimes after looking at a word for a while, I become convinced that it can't possibly be spelled correctly. Even after looking it up, sounding ...
97
votes
12answers
6k views
What do you call a disk with a hole in the middle?
Compact Discs, washers and Aerobie frisbees are all disks with a hole in the middle. Is there a word (either mathematical or not) to describe this shape? I mean the specific case of a round hole in a ...
81
votes
10answers
6k views
Is there a word for a person with only one head?
Reading this article by the fantastic Douglas Adams I came across this interesting quote:
‘[I]nteractivity’ is one of those neologisms that Mr Humphrys likes to dangle between a pair of verbal ...
64
votes
18answers
4k views
How to say that food is hot (temperature) without the listener thinking that I mean “spicy”?
There is an excellent discussion of spicy vs. hot here: Difference between "spicy" and "hot"
However, having read the previous question, I did not see any answer that tells how to ...
51
votes
3answers
4k views
What is the error called when two letters are mistakenly swapped?
Generally this may be called typo but when particularly two letters of a word are mistakenly swapped, what is this error called? Some examples:
teh > the
fromat > format
comptuer > computer
50
votes
13answers
6k views
Is there a polite alternative to “No thanks, I'm full”?
English is not my native language, but when I was studying in the US, I was always trying to find an alternative to
I'm full!
I felt that it was a very improper way to express that I have eaten ...
48
votes
22answers
5k views
Is there a word for a non-geek?
I am looking for a term which clearly defines somebody as a non-geek, without being derogatory. The best example I have seen is muggle, but it needs context to be understood, as in "You don't meet ...
47
votes
2answers
2k views
Is there a single term for “nieces and nephews”?
I find it handy when talking about my sons and daughters I can just say my children. It's nice to say nieces instead of sibling's daughters. I wonder if there is a similar term for nieces and nephews ...
45
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the first part of a joke called?
How does one refer to the first part of a joke?
The follow up is often referred to as a punchline but I'm unsure how to refer to the first part. Is it a 'joke' or does a 'joke' include the punchline?
...
44
votes
10answers
7k views
44
votes
8answers
1k views
Is there an English phrase for an inability to actually *leave* already?
There is a Hungarian expression, küszöbgörcs, which literally means "threshold-cramp", and is used to describe that long conversation you have in the entryway, with all the guests awkwardly holding ...
43
votes
13answers
4k views
What do you call a person who started something that is later followed by everyone?
What do you call a person who started something that is later followed by everyone? For example, someone started to stay late at night till 8 p.m. and later everyone started to stay till 8 p.m..
40
votes
11answers
2k views
Is there a term which covers ATM cards, credit cards, and debit cards?
I work in accommodation for international travelers, and people can pay with various kinds of cards:
In some countries such as USA, credit cards are very common, but debit cards are not so common.
...
40
votes
5answers
4k views
What is a suitable word to describe a place where two rivers meet?
I've googled for a while and on some sites I've found the word "watershed" as the proposed word. Is it the word that best suits it?
39
votes
13answers
2k views
Is there another way of saying 'user-unfriendly'?
Is there another way of saying something is 'user-unfriendly'?
39
votes
9answers
6k views
You quench your thirst. What do you do with your hunger?
What is the equivalent of "quench" when speaking of hunger? Is it appropriate to say you quenched your hunger?
38
votes
15answers
3k views
Is there a word for a change so small that it doesn’t seem to be a change at all?
Today, I was reading an article on pharmaceutical companies making minute changes to a drug in order to extend the patent. In one instance, the company profiled did not actually change the content of ...
38
votes
18answers
6k views
Is there a word to describe someone who tends to disagree with others only to upset them?
What's the word to describe someone who acts arrogantly and always disagrees with others unreasonably in order to upset people around him/her?
[I'm not looking for adjectives like unpleasant, ...
38
votes
10answers
5k views
“Eat” is to “feed” as “drink” is to what?
I can say "I feed someone". Am I forced to say "I give someone a drink", or is there a single word for this (as in "I [verb] someone")? Unfortunately my thesaurus can't really help me.
37
votes
22answers
4k views
Is there a word for telling the truth (technically) in order to misguide?
Let's say I caused a minor car crash some time ago and today I meet a woman. The conversation goes:
Woman: Hey, I remember that car with the scratch from the crash last
week, you must be the one ...
37
votes
7answers
2k views
English counterpart to Japanese signal word, “Dokkoisho”
What is an English counterpart to the Japanese signal word, “Dokkoisho” uttered unconsciously in such case as sitting down on the bench?
When you get old, it becomes tough to move your body. We ...
36
votes
13answers
4k views
A word for a worldly wise person who pretends to be naïve?
What is a word for someone who is experienced and wise, but who deliberately acts naïve?
I don’t intend it for sarcastic use; I’m trying to describe someone succeeding in making people think that ...
36
votes
20answers
5k views
What's the opposite of “concatenate” in programming?
To concatenate means to string together different things. Concatenating "snow" and "ball" produces "snowball." But what would the opposite action be? What is the name of the action used to derive two ...
35
votes
13answers
2k views
What would you call someone who imposes on other people's generosity?
What would you call someone who isn't afraid to ask for money or any kind of favor or who misinterprets someone's generosity for a consistent resource for what they need?
34
votes
7answers
2k views
“Left” and “right” are to “side” as “front” and “rear” are to what?
Is there an equivalent word to "side" when speaking of the front or rear of something (e.g. a car)?
So, a mechanic might say:
You damaged your wing-mirror? Ok, which side?
... or...
You ...
34
votes
4answers
1k views
What are the words for the different parts of a ticket?
Admission tickets such as those for the cinema are often composed of a part which will remain to the customer, and a part which will remain to the attendant.
What are the two parts called?
What is ...
34
votes
2answers
2k views
Is there a term to describe an event which happens every 18 months?
Obviously every year is annual. Every two years is biennial. Does the English language have a term for every 18 months?
33
votes
9answers
3k views
A more appropriate word for feeling “high”?
What is a more formal or appropriate word to replace the word high when writing "feeling high"?
By feeling "high", I don't mean the person has to be smoking weed or taking crack. So the person is not ...
32
votes
11answers
2k views
Other word for an empty promise (that is likely not to be held)
I'm not exactly sure how to word my questions properly, but here it is: Say I receive a reply from customer support such as: "We will take your concern very seriously"
But I get the feeling that this ...
32
votes
20answers
2k views
What is the word for an action that is “considered to be frowned upon”?
I'm looking for an adjective to describe a behavior or action that is considered to be a faux pas, or is frowned upon.
Picking your nose is [word].
Wearing socks with sandals is [word].
...
32
votes
8answers
5k views
“Race” is to “racism” as “religion” is to what?
I've heard "racist" being used in a few cases to describe bigotry towards people of a certain religion. It's a bit annoying because it implies that all people of a religion are the same race, which is ...
30
votes
12answers
9k views
What do you call a person who is always online on the Internet?
Is there any specific word for a person who is always online on the Internet?
I am just curious to know because staying online is like a profession nowadays.
29
votes
10answers
3k views
What is the word to describe “the gaining of full control over an ability or power you already have”?
For example, a Jedi is born with powers, but must learn how to control them in order to use them. What's the one best word for this?
I have _ _ _ my power.
The word is in the back of my head ...
29
votes
17answers
12k views
What is the opposite of procrastination in one word?
I thought of precrastination at first but that appears to be the act of planning to procrastinate.
29
votes
5answers
2k views
What do you call the interconnecting bits of a puzzle piece in English?
This is hard to describe, but I'm curious about what the proper word is for these thingies in English.
So I searched for a picture on Google and circled what I'm referring to with red:
28
votes
15answers
3k views
“True” is to “false” as “truth” is to… what?
If I were to reverse the sentence, "I care about the truth" I would want to say:
I care about the false.
Is that correct? It seems awkward at best:
He speaks the truth! / He speaks the ...
28
votes
8answers
3k views
“Warm” is to “warmth” as “cool” is to what?
Is there a word for "coolness" that corresponds to warmth?
28
votes
5answers
2k views
Winter - wintry; summer - summery; spring - ?; autumn -?
wintry:
characteristic of winter, esp. in feeling or looking very cold and bleak: "a wintry landscape".
summery: belonging to or characteristic of or occurring in summer; "summery weather";
...
27
votes
16answers
3k views
What's a word for avoiding a question with a generic (fake) answer?
Examples...
Q: Why is the sky blue?
A: Because God made it that way.
(A kid to their parent)
Q: Why do I have to clean my room?
A: Because I said so.
What is it called when someone ...
27
votes
12answers
6k views
What is a word for a question that has no answer because it is seemingly invalid?
A friend of mine posted a riddle on Facebook involving adding money and then subtracting money. It ended with a question asking where $1 went, but the trick was that there was no discrepancy, so the ...
27
votes
12answers
2k views
Is there a word to describe a highly desirable cursed treasure?
Is there a single word to describe an object or idea that is so desirable that everyone wants to attain it but once they have it they are immediately cursed?
The idea is often used in literature—some ...
26
votes
15answers
8k views
Collective word for food and drink
Is there a word that best describes food and drink taken at the same time? I've thought of refreshments and consumables but neither seem right to me.
26
votes
7answers
1k views
Single word for people who are like “a frog in the well”
Is there a single word describing someone who is like a frog in a well? The frog believes the well is the entire world. How can I describe people who think that their own small environment is the ...
26
votes
2answers
629 views
What do you call the eating of frogs?
"Herpivory"? "Ranophagy"? Hurry, I need to mock a French friend.
25
votes
7answers
2k views
Do you say 'white blackboard'?
English is not my first language, so I'm not sure what you commonly call one of these:
I'm trying to choose between blackboard, white blackboard, or maybe just 'slate'.
25
votes
7answers
2k views
What are “real stores” called in English, as opposed to “online stores”?
In a piece of software, what would I call a store that sells items to the public in real life as opposed to an online store (ie. a health-food store).
It will look like this:
____ Store
...
25
votes
10answers
8k views
Is there a word for someone with the same name?
If a person shares my name, in Dutch there is the word "naamgenoot", meaning roughly 'member of the same name'.
John A: Hi, my name is "John"
John B: O, then we're insert solution word here!
...
25
votes
12answers
1k views
What is a verb for “illusion”?
What is a verb for illusion? I want to use it in a sentence like the following:
The optical effect [illudes] my perception of its real shape.
But illude does not exist. But I cannot find illude ...
25
votes
12answers
3k views
Is there a synonym for 'fake' that has good connotations?
What's a good adjective to describe a smile which is not genuine, but still has a good connotation?
I was thinking of using fake smile, but fake has a negative connotation, which I'm trying to avoid. ...
25
votes
4answers
1k views
It's so cold that if it rains it'll snow
I want a replacement for rains in the above, as it doesn't really make sense since it won't rain, it will snow.
I think I could use precipitates but I wouldn't use that in conversation as it seems ...
