Bite-sized knowledge for the hungrily curious

Is “Oldfangled” Actually a Word?

Is “Oldfangled” Actually a Word?

What is a “hoser”?

What is a “hoser”?

What is the origin of Groundhog Day?

What is the origin of Groundhog Day?

Do partridges live in pear trees?

Do partridges live in pear trees?

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

Does the medical symbol have one snake or two?

Does the medical symbol have one snake or two?

Why are poppies the symbol of Remembrance Day!

Why are poppies the symbol of Remembrance Day!

Why is the fall season also called autumn?

Why is the fall season also called autumn?

What is “eye of newt”?

What is “eye of newt”?

ADVERTISEMENT

Why do kids “trick or treat” on Halloween?

Why do kids “trick or treat” on Halloween?

What’s the difference between a frog and a toad?

What’s the difference between a frog and a toad?

Why is there no E grade?

Why is there no E grade?

Was Rolling Stone magazine named after The Rolling Stones?

Was Rolling Stone magazine named after The Rolling Stones?

Why do we say “Bob’s your uncle?”

Why do we say “Bob’s your uncle?”

Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s?

Is a dog’s mouth cleaner than a human’s?

Is there such a thing as a single shenanigan?

Is there such a thing as a single shenanigan?

What US states are Gotham and Metropolis in?

What US states are Gotham and Metropolis in?

Why don’t printers use the primary colours, red, blue, and yellow?

Why don’t printers use the primary colours, red, blue, and yellow?

How did Lynyrd Skynyrd get their name?

How did Lynyrd Skynyrd get their name?

How did Def Leppard get their name?

How did Def Leppard get their name?

Why do we get wisdom teeth?

Why do we get wisdom teeth?

What’s up with tennis’s scoring system?

What’s up with tennis’s scoring system?

What’s the difference between an idiot, an imbecile, and a moron?

What’s the difference between an idiot, an imbecile, and a moron?

What’s the difference between an outlaw, a bandit, and a crook?

What’s the difference between an outlaw, a bandit, and a crook?

Who’s older, Gary Oldman or Gary Numan?

Who’s older, Gary Oldman or Gary Numan?

ADVERTISEMENT

Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?

Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?

Why do we call successful movies blockbusters?

Why do we call successful movies blockbusters?

What is the name of Frankenstein’s monster?

What is the name of Frankenstein’s monster?

How did people open cans before can openers were invented?

How did people open cans before can openers were invented?

Why do bullfighters use red capes?

Why do bullfighters use red capes?

What’s the difference between persons and people?

What’s the difference between persons and people?

What is zero to the power of zero?

What is zero to the power of zero?

Is it “chomping at the bit” or “champing at the bit”?

Is it “chomping at the bit” or “champing at the bit”?

Why do dump trucks say “do not push” on the back?

Why do dump trucks say “do not push” on the back?

Why is Kansas City located in Missouri?

Who was Chef Boyardee?

Who was Chef Boyardee?

What do they call French toast in France?

What do they call French toast in France?

Which “duck” came first: The action or the aquatic bird?

Which “duck” came first: The action or the aquatic bird?

Why do we go to hell “in a handbasket”?

Why do we go to hell “in a handbasket”?

Why don’t woodchucks chuck wood?

Why don’t woodchucks chuck wood?

What’s the difference between cream, lotion, and ointment?

What’s the difference between cream, lotion, and ointment?

ADVERTISEMENT

Which came first, M&Ms or Smarties?

Which came first, M&Ms or Smarties?

What was the longest war in history?

What was the longest war in history?

What’s special about Agloe, NY?

What’s special about Agloe, NY?

Why do we say “close but no cigar”?

Why do we say “close but no cigar”?

Who was Jethro Tull?

Who was Jethro Tull?

How far was Willie Mays from home plate when he made “The Catch”?

How far was Willie Mays from home plate when he made “The Catch”?

What colour is neon light?

What colour is neon light?

Do sharks die if they stop moving?

Do sharks die if they stop moving?

Was Colonel Sanders a real colonel?

Was Colonel Sanders a real colonel?

When was the longest year in history?

When was the longest year in history?

Who was Rube Goldberg?

Who was Rube Goldberg?

How big is a cubit?

How big is a cubit?

Why does February have 28 days?

What was the name of The Beatles’ white album?

Where is Old Zealand?

Where is Old Zealand?

What is a poop deck?

What is a poop deck?

ADVERTISEMENT

What’s the difference between a meteor and an asteroid?

What’s the difference between a meteor and an asteroid?

What’s the difference between a ship and a boat?

What’s the difference between a ship and a boat?

What is a Pittsburgh Pirate?

What is a Pittsburgh Pirate?

What is the highest-scoring Scrabble word?

What is the highest-scoring Scrabble word?

How many senses do humans have?

How many senses do humans have?

What is a quokka?

What is a quokka?

What state is home to Springfield from The Simpsons?

What state is home to Springfield from The Simpsons?

What is a nibling?

What is a nibling?

What’s the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Where does the word quarantine come from?

If you skydive in the rain, which side of you gets wet?

If you skydive in the rain, which side of you gets wet?

How many volumes would Wikipedia fill in print?

How many volumes would Wikipedia fill in print?

What is the origin of the word defenestration?

What is the origin of the word defenestration?

What’s the difference between obliged and obligated?

Why does the CDC want you to hum Happy Birthday – twice?

Why does the CDC want you to hum Happy Birthday – twice?

What’s the air pressure inside a commercial aircraft?

What’s the air pressure inside a commercial aircraft?

ADVERTISEMENT

Why are non-drinkers called teetotalers?

Why are non-drinkers called teetotalers?

How far can porcupines shoot their quills?

How far can porcupines shoot their quills?

Which came first, flammable or inflammable?

Which came first, flammable or inflammable?

What two parts make up the word helicopter?

What two parts make up the word helicopter?

What is a wisdom biscuit?

What state of matter is Jell-O in?

What state of matter is Jell-O in?

What’s the difference between poison and venom?

What’s the difference between poison and venom?

What is Wi-Fi short for?

What is Wi-Fi short for?

Is Sodium Pentothal real and is it actually a truth serum?

Is Sodium Pentothal real and is it actually a truth serum?

Which “second” came first, the unit of time or the place following first?

What is a semordnilap?

What connects Stanley Kubrick, JRR Tolkien, and The Beatles?

How do viruses jump from animals to humans?

Which came first, the word “crap” or Thomas Crapper’s toilet innovations?

What percentage of the human body is made up of other organisms?

If you buy 1 million Lotto Max tickets, what are your odds of winning?

If you buy 1 million Lotto Max tickets, what are your odds of winning?

ADVERTISEMENT

Is it “The” Ukraine or just Ukraine?

Is it “The” Ukraine or just Ukraine?

Why is the same side of the moon always facing earth?

Why is the same side of the moon always facing earth?

Why is a big purple vegetable called an eggplant?

Why is a big purple vegetable called an eggplant?

In how many films did Michael Douglas play Batman?

In how many films did Michael Douglas play Batman?

Which is correct, down the pike or down the pipe?

What average speed is required in order to go Around the World in 80 Days?

What average speed is required in order to go Around the World in 80 Days?

Why drop a ball at midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Why drop a ball at midnight on New Year’s Eve?

What does “Auld Lang Syne” mean?

What’s the difference between a possum and an opossum?

What’s the difference between a possum and an opossum?

Is the name Xmas a secular creation?

Is the name Xmas a secular creation?

What is Yule?

How long is an eon?

Which way do helicopter blades rotate?

Which way do helicopter blades rotate?

Do non-human animals get cavities?

Where did the song Mahna Mahna make its debut?

Where did the song Mahna Mahna make its debut?

Which planet was originally known as “George”?

ADVERTISEMENT

Why does Tim Hortons restaurant have no apostrophe?

Why does Tim Hortons restaurant have no apostrophe?

Why isn’t there a cartoon “sailor man” in Popeyes restaurant marketing?

Why isn’t there a cartoon “sailor man” in Popeyes restaurant marketing?

From where did Engelbert Humperdinck get his name?

From where did Engelbert Humperdinck get his name?

Which orange was named first, the fruit or the colour?

Which orange was named first, the fruit or the colour?

Is a tarantula hawk an arachnid or a bird?

Is a tarantula hawk an arachnid or a bird?

Which came first – chess or checkers?

What do they call Danish pastries in Denmark?

What do they call turkey in Turkey?

What do they call turkey in Turkey?

Did you know you can get Wisdom Biscuits by email?

Did you know you can get Wisdom Biscuits by email?

On which continent would you find Hawaii?

On which continent would you find Hawaii?

How much is a butt-load?

What is the tallest mountain on earth?

What is the tallest mountain on earth?

What is the horsepower of one horse?

What is the horsepower of one horse?

What are the Seven Seas?

What material was Mr. Potato Head originally made from?

What material was Mr. Potato Head originally made from?

Which came first – field hockey or ice hockey?

Which came first – field hockey or ice hockey?

ADVERTISEMENT

What’s the difference between jail, prison, and penitentiary?

What’s the difference between jail, prison, and penitentiary?

Why did Gene Roddenberry write lyrics to the Star Trek theme then not use them?

Why did Gene Roddenberry write lyrics to the Star Trek theme then not use them?

Why do we say “beforehand” but not “afterhand”?

What is Chevy Chase’s real name?

What is Chevy Chase’s real name?

An interrobang‽ What the what‽

An interrobang‽ What the what‽

On which film is Airplane! based?

On which film is Airplane! based?

What is brimstone?

What is brimstone?

When was the first known use of OMG?

When was the first known use of OMG?

What does the acronym Taser stand for?

What does the acronym Taser stand for?

What was the last letter added to the alphabet?

What’s the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard?

What does a blobfish look like?

What does a blobfish look like?

Why isn’t ATM an acronym?

Which came first – Burger King or Dairy Queen?

Which came first – Burger King or Dairy Queen?

Which is correct – “octopuses”, “octopi” or something else?

Which is correct – “octopuses”, “octopi” or something else?

What is a single strand of spaghetti called?

ADVERTISEMENT

Why do some refer to Toronto as the 6ix?

Why do some refer to Toronto as the 6ix?

Why do we say “big brown dog” instead of “brown big dog”?

What is an “REO Speedwagon”?

What is an “REO Speedwagon”?

How ‘deep’ is 20,000 leagues?

How ‘deep’ is 20,000 leagues?

Which came first – the electric car or the gasoline car?

Kramer’s name on Seinfeld wasn’t originally Kramer. What was it?

Kramer’s name on Seinfeld wasn’t originally Kramer. What was it?

How does an exception prove a rule?

What Canadian political party famously vowed to repeal the law of gravity?

What Canadian political party famously vowed to repeal the law of gravity?

Why do we say soccer instead of football in North America?

Why are Wham-o flying discs called Frisbees?

Why are Wham-o flying discs called Frisbees?

Why is October the 10th month of the year not the 8th?

Why can’t you own a single Guinea Pig in Switzerland?

Did Coca-Cola originally contain cocaine?

Did Coca-Cola originally contain cocaine?

Why isn’t it the Toronto Maple Leaves?

Why isn’t it the Toronto Maple Leaves?

Why did a Peppa Pig episode get banned in Australia?

Why did a Peppa Pig episode get banned in Australia?

ADVERTISEMENT

Which came first – American or Canadian Thanksgiving?

What is a camelopard?

What is a camelopard?

When and where was the fastest recorded temperature change?

When and where was the fastest recorded temperature change?

What are close encounters of the first and second kind?

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

Which came first – the Chicken McNugget or the Egg McMuffin?

Which came first – the Chicken McNugget or the Egg McMuffin?

Are redheads going extinct?

What is Michael J. Fox’s middle name?

What is Michael J. Fox’s middle name?

How deep would the dimples be if the earth was a golf ball?

How deep would the dimples be if the earth was a golf ball?

Do you have an idea for a Wisdom Biscuit?

Do you have an idea for a Wisdom Biscuit?

When to use palate, palette, and pallet?

What is a “Foo Fighter”?

What is a “Foo Fighter”?

What is a fatal dose of bananas?

What is a fatal dose of bananas?

Which was named first, Pluto the dog or Pluto the planet?

Why “polka” dots?

Why “polka” dots?

Which came first – the match or the lighter?

Which came first – the match or the lighter?

ADVERTISEMENT

When does “literally” really mean “figuratively”?

How long is a “moment”?

Was Sputnik the first man-made object in space?

Is there “zero-gravity” in space?

Is there “zero-gravity” in space?

Is “combobulated” a word?

Is a scientific theory less certain than a scientific law?

What is a ‘fatberg’?

What is the volume of a “ten gallon” hat?

What is the volume of a “ten gallon” hat?

Are there any areas of unclaimed land left on earth?

What is an LA “Dodger”?

What is an LA “Dodger”?

When is a word opposite of itself?

Who’s idea was it to put pineapple on pizza?

Who’s idea was it to put pineapple on pizza?