Love this list! My fav is “orphan-crushing machine,” which in the US translates to all the go fund me accounts needed to fund healthcare and stave off bankruptcy in the absence of a sane universal method like other developed nations.
Thanks so much for this magnificent list! Sounds like you had an educational 2025 & I appreciate you sharing your earned wisdom with the rest of us. No pressure, but I hope this becomes an annual feature -- and most importantly, I hope 2026 holds many wonderful moments in store for you & yours!
I'm fairly certain that most of what I may have learned this year came from reading your articles. I'm sure there were other revelations new to me; I'll try to chronicle next year's.
I love learning things I have wondered about, like “posthaste.” But even more than that I love Costco, because that’s where they keep the frozen lasagna, and even though their future seems less sunny than their past, I enjoyed the article. I might buy stock, because people do have to eat, and all those Icelanders can’t be wrong.
Got a few free hours? You'll love the Acquired podcast's Costco episode: Costco: The Complete History and Strategy https://share.google/MfUgw8G1DBh822PBU
2. I have lived almost my entire life In Italy and I have never heard a hot-water bottle referred to as a mezzo-marito, or “half-husband.” Perhaps it was a limited regional usage? However, I have known a wooden contraption with a pan of hot coals for warming a bed referred to as a “prete”, or “priest”.
5. “San Silvestro” is New Years’ Eve in Italy, too. A bit less common than it used to be, but can still be heard for example as in “cenone di San Silvestro” (a long dinner, designed to keep you sitting at the table until after midnight to wait for he new year.)
10. In Italian, a raccoon is a “procione” or “orsetto lavatore”, a washing bear that looks young, small in size or cute.
Thanks, Paola! "Washing bear" is common across many European languages, but the original Algonquian word from which we get “raccoon” translates literally to “he who scratches with his hands.”
This is a wonderful list, Nancy, and I whooped in astonishment at number one already. I grew up in the US with Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers, and have now lived in Switzerland for 25 years with Kambly. And I had no idea that Kambly came first!! (Nor did I know the Pisces thing, but am still reeling at the Pepperidge Farm revelation.)
A happy new year to you— we’re celebrating Silvester, as New Year’s Eve is known in German-speaking Switzerland too. Prosit Neujahr!
I'm glad Whitwell's annual gig is showing some offshoots, and this entire list was a blast to read, so thanks, Nancy!
I think it's a creative gadget to note stuff like this, and let it accumulate in piles or files until the end of the calendar year.
In November I watched the entire run (2 seasons) of "The Knick," about a very early 20th century hospital in New York. It was directed by Soderbergh, and I liked its visual style, so I looked up who the DP was and found out it was Soderbergh using his alias...and he's also editor under another alias. (#36) And apparently this is an ongoing thing with him.
I like how you got two "Marguerites" back-to-back.
I tried to find out why the class of antibiotics were named after the 1955 (very hardcore) French noir heist film Riffifi (French "rough and tumble"), but ran up against a paywall. My guess is because the hardboiled main character, played by Jean Servais (and who reminds me of William S. Burroughs's persona) seemed to have TB, but it wasn't discussed. Riffifi is an extraordinary film made by an American ex-pat director in France 'cuz he was on the Blacklist.
Love this list! My fav is “orphan-crushing machine,” which in the US translates to all the go fund me accounts needed to fund healthcare and stave off bankruptcy in the absence of a sane universal method like other developed nations.
Or: Why does the US need thoughts and prayers every.god.damned.day ?
Mine too! Very useful and I plan to use it in 2026.
Interesting discussion in "Cottage Life" on "Eavestrough" and how it's related to "eavesdropping."
Interesting to me, anyway—My mind's in the eavestrough.
> In Sweden, the largest size of Hellmann’s mayonnaise — 600 grams— is called “American size.”
Oh no!
In Hebrew, a multiple-choice test is commonly called an "American test" (מבחן אמריקאי).
"O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us / To see oursels as ithers see us!"
😂
Thanks so much for this magnificent list! Sounds like you had an educational 2025 & I appreciate you sharing your earned wisdom with the rest of us. No pressure, but I hope this becomes an annual feature -- and most importantly, I hope 2026 holds many wonderful moments in store for you & yours!
Thanks, and happy new year to you!
I'm fairly certain that most of what I may have learned this year came from reading your articles. I'm sure there were other revelations new to me; I'll try to chronicle next year's.
Thanks, Steve, and happy new year to you!
Nancy, you’re the best! I’ll be reading this all week.
Thank you, Susie!
RE: #13 --- Netflix might find the spelled out version is awkward in the sounded out version: too dumb. : )
jitsu is also how the word truth is pronounced in Japanese. So also appropriate in that they are spreading the truth about vaccinations.
I love learning things I have wondered about, like “posthaste.” But even more than that I love Costco, because that’s where they keep the frozen lasagna, and even though their future seems less sunny than their past, I enjoyed the article. I might buy stock, because people do have to eat, and all those Icelanders can’t be wrong.
Got a few free hours? You'll love the Acquired podcast's Costco episode: Costco: The Complete History and Strategy https://share.google/MfUgw8G1DBh822PBU
I particularly liked Cornelius rooster.
Lydia Pinkham's tonic inspired the song "Lily the Pink" by Scaffold (a Christmas no 1 in the UK in 1969).
Interesting! A few notes:
2. I have lived almost my entire life In Italy and I have never heard a hot-water bottle referred to as a mezzo-marito, or “half-husband.” Perhaps it was a limited regional usage? However, I have known a wooden contraption with a pan of hot coals for warming a bed referred to as a “prete”, or “priest”.
5. “San Silvestro” is New Years’ Eve in Italy, too. A bit less common than it used to be, but can still be heard for example as in “cenone di San Silvestro” (a long dinner, designed to keep you sitting at the table until after midnight to wait for he new year.)
10. In Italian, a raccoon is a “procione” or “orsetto lavatore”, a washing bear that looks young, small in size or cute.
Thanks, Paola! "Washing bear" is common across many European languages, but the original Algonquian word from which we get “raccoon” translates literally to “he who scratches with his hands.”
But only if it came from G. Frick!
I thought a hookless hooker reflected shortcomings in personal marketing.
Ooh, maybe if one wore a cape!
This is a wonderful list, Nancy, and I whooped in astonishment at number one already. I grew up in the US with Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers, and have now lived in Switzerland for 25 years with Kambly. And I had no idea that Kambly came first!! (Nor did I know the Pisces thing, but am still reeling at the Pepperidge Farm revelation.)
A happy new year to you— we’re celebrating Silvester, as New Year’s Eve is known in German-speaking Switzerland too. Prosit Neujahr!
I'm glad Whitwell's annual gig is showing some offshoots, and this entire list was a blast to read, so thanks, Nancy!
I think it's a creative gadget to note stuff like this, and let it accumulate in piles or files until the end of the calendar year.
In November I watched the entire run (2 seasons) of "The Knick," about a very early 20th century hospital in New York. It was directed by Soderbergh, and I liked its visual style, so I looked up who the DP was and found out it was Soderbergh using his alias...and he's also editor under another alias. (#36) And apparently this is an ongoing thing with him.
I like how you got two "Marguerites" back-to-back.
I tried to find out why the class of antibiotics were named after the 1955 (very hardcore) French noir heist film Riffifi (French "rough and tumble"), but ran up against a paywall. My guess is because the hardboiled main character, played by Jean Servais (and who reminds me of William S. Burroughs's persona) seemed to have TB, but it wasn't discussed. Riffifi is an extraordinary film made by an American ex-pat director in France 'cuz he was on the Blacklist.
And a Happy Sylvester to all! (see #5)