Contagious and Infectious

What does "Contagious" or "Infectious" means?

A disease that is "Contagious" is usually passed on from one individual to another through touch - the contact could be with the individual who has the disease, or with an object that the individual has touched.

Measles and chickenpox are Contagious

BlockBuster

What does "BlockBuster" refers?

This is a word which is usually associated with a hit movie or a highly successful book.

Originally 'blockbuster' had nothing to do with movies or books. Believe it or not, the word was first used during World War II to refer to bombs.

Bus Stand

What does "Bus Stand" refers?

Where would you go if you were looking for a "bus stand" somewhere outside India !!

Though the word "Bus Stand" is used very frequently by Indians, it does not find a place in many dictionaries because native speakers of english do not use it

Medical Tourist

What does "Medical Tourist" means?

Visiting a doctor has become very expensive these days. people living in the so called 'developed' countries face this problem:

Some just cannot afford healthcare.

Academic bulimia

What is "Academic bulimia" ?

Bulimia is a disorder.

Some people have a craving for food, and when they eat, they proceed to stuff themselves. Once they have finished eating, they usually rush to the bathroom and force themselves to vomit. This act of eating enormous amount of food and then proceeding to vomit everything is called 'bulimia'

RubberNecks

What is "RubberNecks" ?

Is there a word to describe a driver who slows down in order to have a good look at the accident that has happened

This happens all the time in our country, Doesn't it? Whenever an accident takes place, people are curious to see what has happened.

Revert Back ?

Is it okay to say "Revert Back" ?

We very often hear people using the word 'back' with both 'revert' and 'return'

'We will be returning back to India on the 4th.'
'The Software company has asked us to revert back to the older version'

In both the above sentences, the word 'back' is unnecessary

When you revert to something, you are 'returning' or 'going back' to it. There is no need to use the word 'back' with 'revert'.

You're fired

What is word "You're fired" ?

If the boss walks up to an employee and says, "You're fired!", it means he/she is getting the sack; he/she is losing his/her job. There are many interesting theories regarding the origin of this expression.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

What is word "Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia" ?

We all know what 'Phobia' means : it is the fear of something.
'Hippopoto' comes from 'hippopotamus', and 'monstro' comes from of 'monstrum' meaning 'monster'.
'Sesquippedalio' comes from 'Sesquipedalin' meaning someone who loves to use extremenly long words.
'Sesquippedalophobia' means the fear of long words.

Origin of "e.g"

What is the Origin of "e.g" ?

"E.g" means "for example" and comes from the Latin expression "exempli gratia", "for the sake of an example". "E.g" is used in expression similar to "including", when you are not intending to list everything that is being discussed.

Origin of "i.e."

What is the Origin of "i.e."?

"i.e" stands simply for "that is", which written out fully in Latin is "idest". "i.e." is used in place of "in other words," or "it/that is." It specifies or makes more clear.