Word of the Day, October 2, 2023

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Maybe it was some expression they heard at work, or some phrase they grew up hearing their grandmother say. If you know an idiom that isn't already defined on The Free Dictionary, [send it to us]( and you might win $150 USD. Complete English Grammar Rules [Complete English Grammar Rules] An Amazon Best Seller! Finally, all the rules of English grammar, all in one book, explained in simple terms. ✔ 500+ pages of proper grammar instruction—2X more information than the leading grammar book! ✔ Hundreds of quizzes and thousands of example sentences. [Buy now]( Idiom of the Day [have (one's) head in the sand]( — To refuse to acknowledge or deal with problems, danger, or difficulty, especially in the hopes that they will resolve themselves. The phrase is a reference to ostriches, which were believed (incorrectly) to hide their heads in the ground at the sight of approaching danger. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day The Eye [Discuss]( The eye is an organ of vision and light perception. In the human eye, the iris diaphragm regulates the size of the pupil, allowing more or less light to enter the eye as necessary. Light is focused by the combined action of the curved cornea, internal fluids, and lens. When light reaches the retina, located at the back of the eye, the light-sensitive rod and cone cells are stimulated. They, in turn, send signals to the brain via the optic nerve. How do the rods and cones differ in function? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Subjunctive Mood - Expressing Wishes [Discuss]( One of the most straightforward ways of using the subjunctive mood is when we want to describe a wish for something to be different than it is or was. How do we generally construct these sentences? [More...]( This Day in History Pasilalinic-Sympathetic Compass Demonstrated (1851) [Discuss]( French occultist Jacques Toussaint Benoit's pasilalinic-sympathetic compass was a contraption developed based on his belief that when two snails touch, they create a telepathic bond. His "snail telegraph" contained 24 snails, each associated with an individual letter of the alphabet as well as with a snail counterpart in a second device. One could theoretically transmit a message by touching the snails, eliciting reactions from their counterparts. What happened when he demonstrated his device? [More...]( Today's Birthday Charles Albert of Sardinia (1798) [Discuss]( The complex and controversial king of Sardinia-Piedmont from 1831 to 1849, Charles Albert helped inspire the growing drive for Italian independence. In 1848, the spread of revolutionary ideas forced him to grant a constitution. Seeking to lead the liberation of Italy, he went to war with Austria that same year, and again in 1849, but was twice defeated. After abdicating in favor of his son, he went into exile and soon died. Charles was called the "number one enemy" of what? [More...]( Today's Holiday Guinea Independence Day [Discuss]( [Guinea]( became an independent republic on this day in 1958, after having been a [French colony]( since the late 19th century. Independence Day is a national holiday celebrated all over the country with parades, dances, and sports competitions, especially in the capital city of [Conakry](. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on earth can ever turn it into a fact. 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