Become a hardware store savant

How old were you when you learned these hardware staples' names'?

It happens to the best of us: you embark on a mundane home repair, only to realize that there is a broken thing in need of replacement. But, alas, you don’t know the name of said item. Spare yourself the embarrassment of having to show the hardware store clerk a clumsy smartphone picture of the wretched piece itself. After reading this article, you will be able to walk into the store and order a wing nut or an escutcheon with the confidence of a seasoned contractor.

A toggle bolt is a fastener designed for hollow walls such as drywall. Its secret weapon is a pair of spring-loaded wings that fold to fit through a hole and then expand behind the wall, spreading the load over a larger area.

The word toggle comes from an older mechanical term for a pivoting or folding device. The name describes exactly what the wings do: they change position after passing through the wall. As drywall construction became widespread during the twentieth century, toggle bolts became a common household fastener.

A wing nut is probably one of the easiest hardware names to understand. Instead of a standard hexagonal shape, it has two projections that resemble wings, allowing it to be tightened or loosened by hand. You might find it located under the toilet tank.

The design became popular wherever quick adjustments were needed without tools. You’ll find wing nuts on equipment, musical stands, machinery, and countless household items. Their name is purely visual, based on the shape that makes them so convenient.

Among hardware terms, escutcheon sounds especially mysterious, right? It refers to the decorative or protective plate surrounding a keyhole, pipe opening, or door fixture.

The word originally referred to a shield used in heraldry. Over time, the term was applied to hardware because the plate "shielded" or covered an opening. Although most people encounter escutcheons regularly, almost nobody realizes that they are using a word with medieval roots.

The carriage bolt earned its name from the horse-drawn carriage era. Builders needed a fastener that could secure wooden components without leaving a protruding head that might snag clothing, cargo, or harnesses. You might find one on an outdoor deck.

Its smooth, rounded head and square neck solved the problem. The square section bites into wood and prevents the bolt from turning while the nut is tightened. Even though carriages largely disappeared long ago, the name remains in use today.

A lag screw is a heavy-duty fastener commonly used in timber construction. It looks like a giant screw but is often tightened with a wrench because of its large hexagonal head. It can usually be found on TV wall mounts.

The origin of the word lag is uncertain, but it likely derives from an older term associated with large wooden structural members. The name reflects the fastener’s traditional role in securing heavy timbers for buildings, bridges, docks, and other major structures.

Sometimes hardware names are exactly what they seem. An S-hook is simply a hook shaped like, you guessed it, the letter S. You might recognize it from kitchen pot racks.

Its design has existed for centuries because of its simplicity and usefulness. One end can attach to a support while the other holds an object. From hanging pots and tools to organizing workshops and warehouses, the S-hook remains one of the most versatile pieces of hardware ever created.

Aside from being a common name, many people assume that "molly" describes a type of fastener. It began as a trademark. In 1934, inventor George Frederick Croessant patented an improved hollow-wall anchor sold under the name MOLLY. Today, it can be seen in curtain rod brackets.

The product became so successful that the brand name gradually turned into a generic term. Today, countless people use "molly bolt" to describe expandable wall anchors, even when they are not made by the original manufacturer.

The purpose of a lock washer is built directly into its name. It is designed to help prevent a fastener from loosening because of vibration or movement. It can often be found in washing machines and dryers.

As automobiles, railroads, and industrial machinery became more common during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, engineers needed better ways to keep bolts secure. Lock washers became one of the simplest solutions, helping assemblies stay tight under demanding conditions.

A nyloc nut contains a nylon insert that grips the bolt’s threads. This extra friction helps keep the nut from backing off when subjected to vibration. It can be found in skateboards and roller skates.

The name combines two words: nylon and lock. Like many successful engineering products, the term eventually became familiar beyond the company that originally promoted it. Today, nyloc nuts are widely used in automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications.

This acorn nut is not the kind that grows on oaks. An acorn nut bolt features a rounded, closed end that covers the exposed tip of a bolt. Viewed from the side, the shape somewhat resembles the acorn that grows on trees.

The design serves both practical and aesthetic purposes. It protects people from sharp threads while helping shield the bold from dirt and moisture. That’s why acorn nuts are often found on furniture, bicycles, playground equipment, and ornamental metalwork.

A draw bolt works by pulling two parts tightly together. Unlike a standard bolt-and-nut combination, it often functions as a latch that creates tension when closed.

The name comes directly from the verb draw, meaning to pull. Draw bolts are commonly used on toolboxes, storage cases, industrial cabinets, and equipment enclosures where a secure, tight closure is needed.

A T-nut, also known as a tee nut, gets its name from its shape. Viewed from the side, its threaded barrel and flange resemble the letter T.

The design allows a bolt to be inserted from one side of a wooden panel, while the T-nut anchors itself from the other. T-nuts are especially common in furniture, speaker cabinets, climbing walls, and other products that require strong threaded connections in wood.

No problemo!

"Whatchoo Talkin' 'Bout, Willis?!" Do you remember these TV series lines?

Image: Possessed Photography

Perhaps because they appeared on our screens repeatedly, TV shows had a way of imprinting certain catchphrases in our memories. These expressions worked as a primitive version of what we now know as memes: little ideas that could be used in multiple situations and were often funny or curious. Shows like The X Files, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, or Sledge Hammer had catchphrases and famous lines that every viewer will remember. Take a look at the following 12 and see which ones you recall!

Image: Stefan Grage

The most famous cartoon family since 1989 has created more than one catchphrase throughout its long history. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie have gone through numerous phases of their lives and tackled social, political, economic, and other situations with their signature Simpsons humor.

But, without a doubt, Homer is the highlight of the animated sitcom. He is not the smartest man alive, but he has some brilliantly funny moments. A sign of something going wrong is Homer's angry "D'oh!" which has become a part of pop culture.

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The brilliant combination of sci-fi with the supernatural that was The X-Files marked the 1990s TV, thanks in no small part to FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who looked into unresolved cases with extraterrestrial origins.

Dana Scully said the famous line, "The truth is out there, but so are lies," and the first part of the quote became the tagline of The X-Files.

Image: Patrick Hendry

While the phrase was made famous by Jack Nicholson in The Shining, "Here's Johnny," dates back to 1960s television, when it was first uttered by Ed McMahon to introduce audiences to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Image: Pepi Stojanovski

In 1999, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire debuted as a two-week show but, due to its massive success, became a regular series. The question, "Is that your final answer?" was asked by the host Regis Philbin, and has since become a phrase used in multiple situations of everyday life.

Image: Frank Okay

The Addams Family was a 1964 television show based on a series of New Yorker cartoons depicting a family full of macabre interests and supernatural powers, that to this day still remain in our minds thanks to films, animated movies, comic books, and more.

While The Addams Family is known for its peculiar characters, there's one line that everyone remembers, which is "You rang?", uttered by the show's butler, Lurch.

Image: National Cancer Institute

Few phrases carry as much kindness as "Won't you be my neighbor?" from the children's show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Fred Rogers created the show and served as host, writer, puppeteer, voice actor, and musical composer.

Image: Jon Tyson

The "Adventures of Superman" made its television debut in 1952, and this line was part of the opening title sequence. The voice-over narration continued: "Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!"

Image: Paul Einerhand

Walter Cronkite signed off his"CBS Evening News" shows with the words: "That's the way it is." Originally, Cronkite used to encourage viewers to read their newspapers for more details, but network executives were not happy with his suggestion. Cronkite eventually agreed to change his salutation to the one that is now in the annals of history.

Image: Ben Griffiths

A running gag, this question was repeatedly asked by child actor Gary Coleman in "Diff'rent Strokes" to his on-screen brother, played by Todd Bridges, whenever he said something confusing or dumb.

Image: Chris Arthur-Collins

This phrase, and its many similar iterations, was uttered by the villain of the day, at the end on each Scooby Doo episode. This happened because every episode had a similar structure: the Scooby gang went to investigate some paranormal activity, encountered fake ghosts and monsters, and went on to unmask them.

Image: Rowen Smith

Other than "jumping the shark", the pop culture favorite show "Happy Days" also created the catchphrase "Ayyy", as uttered by the Fonz, its popular character. The phrase had several meanings, ranging from an expression of disgust to a celebratory exclamation.

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This half-hour comedy about a police detective who went too far, every single time, but with humorous results, was only aired for a couple of seasons, but left a mark on its audience. Sledge Hammer carried a .44 magnum everywhere he went and said, "Trust me, I know what I'm doing" before doing all sorts of insane things.