Proverbial challenge

From apples to inches: This game might teach you a thing or two!

Image: Alex Shute

Wisdom comes in many shapes and sizes. Maybe it was a piece of advice a friend gave you, or that class at college you never forgot. Today, we have a game for you: wisdom in the shape of proverbs. How many do you know? Do you know what they mean? Read the first five sections to see the context, and try to guess the proverb. In the final sections, we’ll give out the answers. Ready for a challenge? Keep reading and see!

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We don’t only inherit our hair color; we also inherit behavior, gestures, and ways of talking, even. This proverb is used when those similarities are too big to hide! Good or bad, the attitude that you copy from a parent makes people go: "Well, you know, the apple doesn’t…"

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Who hasn’t done a small favor for a friend or family member? Our days are full of good deeds, and they make us proud, right? Well, the problem comes when a simple favor turns into a bigger ask, and then an even bigger one. That friendly neighbor who asked for a tool first, but then asked you to fix the whole fence, you gave them an inch… What’s next?

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Goodbyes are hard, there’s no denying that! But you know that some time apart from that special someone can really help you understand how you feel and, most times, you’ll learn you really love that person and wish they were right next to you again. How does absence make the heart feel?

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Picture yourself in your house, looking at the phone, hoping to hear it ring with the bad news you know is coming your way. But time passes by, the phone never rings, and so you start feeling calmer and calmer. You just wait, hope for the best, and remind yourself that no news is…

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Everyone hits rough patches. We’ve all been there, right? However, some people seem to strive right through them with nothing but determination. The confidence is high and there’s a certainty that if you want something badly enough, you’ll get it, no matter how hard it is to do so. After all, you know, where there’s a will…

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That’s right, and Newton knew it! (LOL) All jokes aside, the proverb is the best way to say we are pretty similar to the people who raised us. How could we not? As long as it refers to good traits, cheers to that!

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Oh, that neighbor! You can ask for a tool, but that’s that! This proverb highlights the difference between asking for a small favor and taking advantage of someone else! An inch is an inch, and that’s what you should ask for!

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

Distance and absence are what really show us how we feel about people. It’s not necessarily fair, but time apart can make feelings grow stronger. In the end, real connections are what matter, regardless of the distance!

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Stop waiting for the phone to ring. If it doesn’t, you know it’s because there’s nothing to say. And sometimes, that’s the best news you can get! Great proverb to help us deal with anxiety today, huh?

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You could use the word "resilient," or you can put this great proverb to use! In any case, if you have it in you, if you really want it, you’ll find a solution to your problems!

What’s in a name?

Can you guess these 6 words named after places? Join our toponymic game!

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It is not surprising that some things we use or see every day are named after the place where they originated. And, over time, the place name becomes the name for the object. Words named after places or geographically grouped peoples are called toponymic words. There are more toponymic words than you can imagine, but you probably never gave them a second thought. So, we've come up with a game: We have left some clues for you to discover 6 words that derive from their place of origin. At the end of the article, you will find the correct answers. Are you up for the challenge?

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Our first toponymic word refers to a variety of knee-length, wide-legged shorts named after a British overseas territory located in a Caribbean archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the east coast of the United States.

Still haven't figured it out? Here's a hint: According to legend, there is a "triangle" in this area where numerous ships and planes have disappeared in mysterious circumstances.

Image: James Wiseman

To guess this word, you have to think of a type of British coin that took its name from a region of West Africa known for its naturally moist tropical forest and savanna.

This particular gold coin was minted from 1663 to 1814 and represented a value of 20 shillings in sterling species, equal to one pound. Any ideas?

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There are many ways to refer to coffee: espresso, brew, Joe, black gold, and morning elixir, among many others. But on this occasion, we are going to focus on a toponymic word that derives from the name of a specific Indonesian island.

Coffee took this nickname when the islands were colonized by the Dutch in the 19th century. During this time, as the beverage became more and more popular, the main source of the world's coffee was this Indonesian island. Sound familiar?

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What do a formal shoe and a British city have in common? Their name! This word has its origin in an English cathedral city founded in the 8th century. The shoe in question is typically made of leather and tied with laces.

You still don't know the answer? Here's a clue: This town is home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world, where great names in world history such as Adam Smith, Oscar Wilde, Stephen Hawking, and Bill Clinton, among many others, studied.

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The fifth word in our toponymic game refers to the practice of an unconventional lifestyle generally associated with musicians, authors, painters, actors, and intellectuals. The term derives from the name of one of the three historical regions that make up the Czech Republic.

No idea what we're talking about? What if we told you that you can find the word in the title of a famous song by the British band Queen? If you are still feeling lost, scroll down and you'll find the answer!

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A type of wool made from the hair of a certain goat species shares its name with a region in North India located at the foot of the Himalayas. Although they are not spelled exactly the same, they are pronounced identically and have a historical connection.

Need a hint? The fabric made from this wool is one of the finest, softest, and warmest in the world. And yes, it is one of the most expensive too!

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Bermuda shorts are a type of short pants, worn mainly on informal occasions. The origin of this garment dates back to the early 20th century, when the British military was stationed in Bermuda. The English officers were not used to the sweltering heat of the Caribbean, so they decided to cut off their pants to alleviate the effects of the high temperatures.

The idea was a total success. The new garment began spreading to local civilians, causing the island's tailors to start selling their suits with shorts instead of long pants. Over time, tourists also adopted the local style, and bermudas gradually made their way to other parts of the world. Nowadays, bermuda shorts are the quintessential summer garment, favored for their style and versatility.

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The first guineas were minted in 1663, authorized by the British Crown "for the use and on behalf of the Company of Royal Adventurers trading with Africa". The coin received this name because the gold used to produce the first series was imported from the Guinea Coast, in West Africa.

The etymology of the word guinea is a bit tricky. It is believed that the English term Guinea comes from the Portuguese Guiné, a word from the mid-15th century used to refer to the lands inhabited by the Guineus. Guineus is what the Portuguese called the "black" African peoples living south of the Senegal River.

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Although it is not the most common nickname, many people call coffee Java. But why? Java was a very developed island in the Dutch East Indies era. In the 17th century, the Dutch introduced coffee to Southeast Asia, including places like Sumatra, Bali, and Java. In the 19th and early 20th century, Javanese coffee gained global popularity.

In 1863, a New York coffee merchant named Lewis A. Osborn launched the first packaged coffee in the United States. It was called "Osborn's Celebrated Prepared Java Coffee", a testament to the fact that the name Java was a synonym for quality coffee since it started to be massively consumed in our country.

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Did you guess it? We bet you did! Even if you didn't know the origin of the word, you probably have at least a pair of Oxford shoes in your closet. Oxford shoes are a classic and versatile style that can be worn for weddings as well as job interviews. But what is their connection with the famous English city?

There are many theories about the origin of Oxford shoes. The most accepted one is that their name derives from a type of boot known as the Oxonian that was very popular among students at Oxford University in the early 19th century. In turn, these shoes have roots in the Balmoral boot, named after Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

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The Oxford Dictionary defines the word bohemia as "Socially unconventional, artistic people viewed collectively or as a community". The word was borrowed from the French La bohème and was used to describe artists’ non-traditional lifestyles in large European cities.

The term appeared in the early 19th century and derived from the similarities the French found between urban bohemians and the Romani. La bohème was a common name for the Gypsy people of France, who were mistakenly believed to have arrived in the 15th century from Bohemia, the western part of what is now known as the Czech Republic.

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Cashmere is a natural fiber highly valued for its softness and warmth. It is obtained from the wool of the long-haired cashmere goat, native to the Kashmir region in northern India. Nowadays, these goats are also raised in other countries such as China, Mongolia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

The term cashmere is an anglicization of the name Kashmir and was used to describe shawls made by Kashmiri craftsmen that were traded via the Silk Road. However, it is said that the one responsible for its massive introduction to the Western world was Napoleon Bonaparte in the 19th century.