Culture
Susie Dent’s Top 10s: Ten malaphors
Malaphors - a blend of malapropisms and metaphors. Whether you like them, dislike them, or still aren't entirely sure what they are, this week's top...
How a new dam saved the island of Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel recently celebrated its 1,000th birthday. The stunning abbey is famed for its isolated location, sitting roughly a mile off the...
Why Is There a Scottish Village In Italy? ??
The Italian Alps, home to countless quintessential Italian villages…and one not-so traditional. Welcome to Gurro, the Scottish village in Italy....
Susie Dent’s Top 10s: Ten words to make you sigh
Have you suspired recently? Many of us have, possibly without knowing it, for ‘suspire’ is a beautiful, all-but-forgotten word from the 15th cen...
Mahua | The Indian liquor banned by the British Raj now making a comeback
Mahua is a sweet, floral liquor native to India. You might not have heard of it before, but it has been consumed for centuries. It was a regular part...
Krampus, Hans Trapp and the best Christmas villains
Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas – they are just a few of the different names to describe the jolly man who has come to personify C...
The Original Warrior Energy Bar
Churchkhela has been a favored snack in many countries for thousands of years. However, despite this, it is still relatively unknown to the wider...
Susie Dent’s Top 10s: Ten words with grisly backstories
Ugsome: it’s a word from the past I like to resurrect when I encounter something that is really, truly revolting. The ‘ug’ part is a borrowing from...
The history of Big Ben, Great Tom and the world's most famous clock
Nowadays, Big Ben is a worldwide tourist attraction and a fixture of the London skyline. What you might not know, however, is that the impressive...
What is Japan's Stinkiest Superfood?
Have you tried nattō? ???If not, don't worry as we're here to help you expand your palette. Nattō are soybeans that have been fermented by a b...
Susie Dent's Top 10s: Ten Characters in the Dictionary
From the mysterious Uncle Bob to the real McCoy and an intelligent Alec, the English language has plenty of examples of dictionary characters. This...