嘉越．飛越

In Mental Floss: The Curious Compendium of Wonderful Words, readers are introduced to a fascinating array of obscure terms that many may not have heard before. As you read through the book, “you’ll find some of the best word and language-related content from Mental Floss, including deep dives into how to win word games, alternative ways to say common words, delightful old-timey jargon, and the strange etymologies behind common words.”

Different ways to say hello
There are many different ways to say hello, many of which are borrowed from other languages. In Japan, people greet each other on the phone by saying moshi moshi, while in person, they would say konnichiwa or ohayou. In cowboy movies, you would very often hear cowboys greet each other by saying howdy, which originated in sixteenth-century England, meaning how do ye or how do you. The Italian word ciao can mean both hello and goodbye. However, in Italy, ciao can only be used with family or friends and is inappropriate for formal meetings.

To express the sensation of pain in words
When we feel sudden pain, such as being pricked by a needle or scratched by a cat, we often say ouch. The word ouch comes from the German word autsch which conveys the expression of physical pain. Interestingly, there are many other words used to express physical pain. For instance, Argh! is often exclaimed by Charlie Brown in the comic strip Peanuts when he is in dismay. Yow! has been used to express pain in English since the early twentieth century, but people use it to indicate amazement in Australia and New Zealand.

Different ways to describe someone who is tired
In the book, the author presents ten different ways to express that you are tired. For instance, when you say someone is bog-eyed, you mean their eyes look very tired. Bog-eyed was slang in the 1920s, referring to tired eyes, either from lack of sleep or excessive drinking. Another word is choofed, which means to feel completely exhausted from overexertion.

Origins of A.M. and P.M.
When you tell time, you often use A.M. and P.M. Both abbreviations are derived from Latin phrases. A.M. stands for ante meridiem, which translates to “before midday”. P.M. is an abbreviation of post meridiem, meaning “after midday”.

This book is an engaging and fun read for anyone who loves language. It takes you on a journey through the world of unusual words, bizarre phrases, and their surprising histories. It is a delightful mix of education and entertainment, making it an ideal choice for readers of all ages.