2. Sports
Canadians and Americans love sports very much. Many words originated from sports. Here are some examples originated from baseball game.
“Ballpark”. A ballpark is where baseball is played. People gather together to watch the game. You can imagine people talk to each other casually, not seriously. Therefore, a “ballpark figure” is just a rough figure, an approximate figure.
“Hard ball”. A hard ball is difficult to catch. When you are being tough to another person, giving that person a hard time, you are playing hard ball.
“Sales pitch”. Compelling persuasions to make the sale.
3. Obscenities
One rolian asked how “it sucks” came into place. It was considered obscenity by some people.
You don’t have to speak dirty languages, but you need to be able to understand them. It is not appropriate to list many examples here. Mild obscene words, such as “suck”, “Gee”, “Holy cow” and “darn”, etc., have become acceptable now.
Canadians and Americans love sports very much. Many words originated from sports. Here are some examples originated from baseball game.
“Ballpark”. A ballpark is where baseball is played. People gather together to watch the game. You can imagine people talk to each other casually, not seriously. Therefore, a “ballpark figure” is just a rough figure, an approximate figure.
“Hard ball”. A hard ball is difficult to catch. When you are being tough to another person, giving that person a hard time, you are playing hard ball.
“Sales pitch”. Compelling persuasions to make the sale.
3. Obscenities
One rolian asked how “it sucks” came into place. It was considered obscenity by some people.
You don’t have to speak dirty languages, but you need to be able to understand them. It is not appropriate to list many examples here. Mild obscene words, such as “suck”, “Gee”, “Holy cow” and “darn”, etc., have become acceptable now.