Daily Content Archive
(as of Wednesday, September 8, 2021)| Word of the Day | |||||||
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promontory
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| Daily Grammar Lesson | |
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Idioms that Start with PrepositionsMost idioms that start with prepositions are prepositional phrases and consist of a preposition followed by a noun or noun phrase. What are the most common prepositions found at the beginning of prepositional idioms? More... | |
| Article of the Day | |
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 Celebratory GunfireA common practice in places such as the Balkans, the Middle East, South Asia, Latin America, and some parts of the US, shooting a firearm into the air in celebration occurs most often on holidays such as New Year's, Christmas, and Eid. Falling bullets are responsible for damaged roofs and shattered windows. Worse, they can result in injury and even death. Why is the mortality rate among those struck by falling bullets much higher than the mortality rate normally associated with gunshot wounds? More... | |
| This Day in History | |
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 Delano Grape Strike Begins (1965)In late 1965, California grape workers went on strike to protest poor pay and labor conditions. Labor leader César Chávez soon took up their cause, and in 1966, he and his followers began a 340-mi (547-km) trek from Delano to the state capitol to raise awareness of the farm workers' plight. The march began with 75 people and ended in a rally of 10,000 people on the capitol steps. Many Americans rallied to their cause and boycotted table grapes. The strike lasted five years and accomplished what? More... | |
| Today's Birthday | |
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 Marie Thérèse Louise de Savoie-Carignan, Princesse de Lamballe (1749)Marie Thérèse was a French aristocrat and confidant of Queen Marie Antoinette, who met with members of the National Assembly in Thérèse's salon. As the French Revolution escalated, Thérèse attempted to stir English support for the monarchy but was soon imprisoned with the queen. After refusing to oppose the monarchy, she was delivered to a bloodthirsty mob that murdered and mutilated her in the September Massacres of 1792. After her head was cut off, it was placed on a pike and brought where? More... | |
| Quotation of the Day | |
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 It is worth a lot of bother to be able to think properly.L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) | |
| Idiom of the Day | |
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make (someone's) jaw drop— To cause someone to pause in astonishment, awe, or disbelief, especially with their mouth left open. More... | |
| Today's Holiday | |
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 International Literacy Day (2021)Established by the United Nations to encourage universal literacy, this day has been observed since 1966 by all countries and organizations that are part of the UN system. Observances are sponsored primarily by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) and include the awarding of special literacy prizes. Prizes are also awarded by the International Reading Association and the Japanese publisher Shoichi Noma to literacy programs that have made a significant difference. More... | |
| Word Trivia | |
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Today's topic: tobaccoblend - A combination of different types or grades of fabric, spirits, tea, tobacco, etc. More... tabac - A color, from the French for tobacco. More... cud, quid - The etymological base of cud appears to be "glutinous substance"; quid—"piece of tobacco for chewing"—is a variant of cud. More... petunia - It is related to the tobacco plant, hence its name, from Portuguese petum, "tobacco." More... | |