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.

Time-tested phrases

Time is money — And we'll tell you how and why

Image: Aron Visuals

Clocks, alarms, calendars: since ancient times, humans have been finding ways to measure time. And because time plays such a central role in our lives, it’s no surprise that it’s also a key part of our everyday language, often without us even realizing it. From trying to "beat the clock" to learning to "hold our horses" or waiting for something that happens "once in a blue moon," today we’re exploring the origins and meanings of 10 time-related idioms you’ve probably never stopped to think about.

Image: Michal Balog

"She kept pacing while waiting for the test results, but a watched pot never boils."

Remember that class in school that felt like it would never end? The more you watched the clock, the slower the minutes seemed to pass, making time feel like it stood still. That’s exactly when the idiom "a watched pot never boils" fits perfectly, capturing that impatient feeling we get when we’re desperately waiting for something to happen.

Image: Liam McGarry

"With the current mayor nearing retirement, several ambitious candidates are already waiting in the wings."

Theater has given us many of the idioms we use every day, most of them inspired by its traditions and stagecraft. The "wings," for example, are those areas on both sides of the stage, where actors stand before stepping into the spotlight. That’s where the expression "waiting in the wings" comes from; it describes someone who’s ready and poised for the perfect moment to act.

Image: Kevin Ku

"Don’t waste your morning scrolling through social media. Remember: time is money."

There’s one thing humanity has tried for ages but still hasn’t been able to achieve: turning back time. You can regret the past or wish with all your heart to relive it, but once time is gone, it’s gone. That’s where the popular saying "time is money" comes in, reminding us of the value of time and why we should use it wisely. Often credited to the brilliant Benjamin Franklin, it’s a phrase nearly everyone has heard or used at some point.

Image: Kateryna Shevchenko

"I told my friend to see a doctor when her cold started, because a stitch in time saves nine."

Originating from the world of sewing—where a quick stitch can stop a small tear from turning into a big rip—this idiom reminds us that the sooner we deal with a problem, the easier it is to fix. Do you live by that rule, or are you the type who waits until the hole in your shirt becomes impossible to ignore?

Image: Kym MacKinnonv

"We go to the beach together once in a blue moon, but it’s always special."

In astronomy, a blue moon refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with the moon’s color. Since this event happens only about once every two or three years, the expression "once in a blue moon" is used to describe something that occurs very rarely—or almost never.

Image: Andy Beales

"The firefighters beat the clock and stopped the flames from spreading."

You wake up at 8:15 and need to be at the office by 9. If you actually make it, you can proudly say you "beat the clock." This expression, meaning to finish something just in time or before a deadline, likely originated in the world of sports, especially racing. But it really became popular thanks to the TV game show Beat the Clock, where contestants had to complete fun challenges before time ran out.

Image: Mayte Garcia Llorente

"Grandpa had a whale of a time telling us his old adventure stories."

We’ve all had that moment after a fun night out with friends when you get home, smile to yourself, and think about how great the event was. That’s when you can say you had "a whale of a time." This expression dates back to the 19th century and uses the whale’s enormous size as a metaphor for the big, unforgettable experience you’ve just had.

Image: Kimberly Archambault

"I know you’re excited about the trip, but hold your horses until we finish packing."

You don’t have to live in the countryside to know that when you’re riding a horse or driving a cart, you need to pull on the reins to slow down or stop. That’s exactly what this idiom is about: patience and self-control. When someone tells you to "hold your horses," they’re suggesting that you should wait a moment or proceed more carefully in a situation.

Image: Rosario Fernandes

"She felt the time was ripe to tell her family about her plans."

No matter how hungry you are, if you take that delicious pie out of the oven too soon, it probably won’t turn out right. Sometimes, it’s better to wait for the perfect moment. Just like when harvesting fruit, you wait until it’s fully ripe before picking it. That’s exactly what the idiom "the time is ripe" communicates: it’s the right moment to take action.

Image: Petra Reid

"I’ll hang fire on making my decision until I’ve spoken with everyone involved."

Back in the 17th century, things weren’t like they are today; even firearms worked differently. Flintlock guns, for example, sometimes had a delay between pulling the trigger and the bullet firing. This specific malfunction gave rise to the idiom "hang fire," which refers to any situation or person that is delayed or hesitant.