Q. Afraid to ask, but where does the expression ‘caught red-handed’ come from? . A. Caught Red-Handed Blood on their hands. Today, if you’re ‘caught red-handed,’ you’ve been busted in the midst of a transgression; there’s no denying what you’ve done. The phrase dates back to 15th Century Scotland where the

Q. Debates rage around how best to measure viewership across private and public platforms. But, one thing we know for sure: many of us spend much time streaming masses of content. Which shows were particularly popular in 2022? . A. OG cable trackers Nielsen are now using ‘people-powered panels and

Q. January may be the universal ‘eat less, exercise more’ month. But, surely we can have some remembrances of things past through art. What are some notable works that celebrate the decadence of a feast? . A. . Banquet Still Life with self-portrait of the artist in the silver jug Abraham

Q. ‘It’s not the 80s. Nobody says ‘hack’ anymore’. “Genius Billionaire Playboy Philanthropist” Tony Stark – aka Iron Man – knew that in 2013. (Though he reserves the right, of course, to break his own rules later). What are some other workish words that come across as clichéd or dated?

Q. What are your most prized material possessions?  What do you hope you’ll have tucked safely at home, or in your pocket, no matter what, no matter where. . A. This is a question that One Poll asked of 2,000 North American adults. What did the respondents report treasuring most?

Q. Happy National Cheese Lovers’ Day! How best to celebrate this glorious occasion? . A. Today’s cheese fest is rooted in the U.S. who in 2022 – according to Statista – rated second in the world for overall cheese consumption. The EU was first. Cheese consumption, for those aiming for

Q. It’s January, it’s raining, and the wanderlust is coming on strong. What are some lesser-used or forgotten words related to travel? . A. Bourne Your destination Coddiwomple To set off with great determination to you’re not quite sure where Feriation On holidays which – this archaic word reminds us

Q. Do I hear wedding bells? Well, I hope so; always excited to celebrate couples in the joy of a wedding. How did the ‘wedding bell’ phrase become so ubiquitous, and what are some unique ways in which couples incorporate bells into their wedding days? . A. As Judy Garland

Q. Canadian Pride! We have been enjoying watching Dan Levy’s ‘The Big Brunch’, with co-judges Sohla El-Waylly and Will Guidara, and a talented roster of socially-minded contestant chefs. In doing so, we came to wonder: what’s the history of this most delicious late morning meal? . A. The origins of

Q. For more than 40 years, Lake Superior State University has gathered nominations from around the world – a list that now includes the US, Canada, India, England, Malaysia, Namibia, Norway, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago… Their focus? English words so annoying or overused that they should be banished. What words