NICKNAMES ARE FOREVER

Do you know why Eisenhower was called Ike? Find out this and more!

Image: Tim Mossholder

Anyone can cope with the common garden variety of nicknames; you probably know plenty of Jimmies, Betties, or Freddies. But try going through life being known as Hairy Pants, The Sluggard, or maybe even Turd Blossom. While a few are endearing and kind, some of these nicknames are appalling enough to become the stuff of legends and transcend the very individuals who endured them in their lifetimes. Suddenly, being called just Bob doesn’t sound so bad, right?

Image: Frances P. Burke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Probably the most famous nickname in baseball history, George Ruth’s "Babe" was a consequence of his young age when he began playing. Over the years he was given many other bynames, like Bambino, The Sultan of Swat, The Big Bam, and Jidge, among others. But none stuck quite like Babe. And the fact that his name is inscribed in golden lettering in the history of baseball almost like none other helps perpetuate the legend.

Image: Illinois State University, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Although most people know him by that name, Buffalo Bill wasn't always named like that. In fact, his real name was William Frederick Cody and he was an American soldier, bison hunter, and showman.

The nickname Buffalo Bill was received by William after the American Civil War when he had a contract to supply Kansas Pacific Railroad workers with buffalo (American bison) meat. Cody himself is supposed to have killed 4,282 bison in eighteen months in 1867 and 1868. More than enough to earn him his nickname.

Image: Steinar Engeland

Ragnar Lodbrok —yes, the same one from the TV show **Vikings**— was a Danish King of the 9th Century. He was known as Ragnar Hairy Breeches (or Pants), allegedly because of the pair he wore when slaying a mythological dragon.

While the aforementioned dragon bit might not be quite real, Ragnar was indeed quite a hairy character, terrorizing England and France with raids that even reached Paris. Eventually, he met his end in Northumbria, where he was thrown into a pit of snakes.

Image: Wolfgang Hansemann

Known in his native French as Louis Le Faineant, King Louis V was, to put it mildly, a very slow-paced and ineffective individual. Raised by his father to become king from an early age, Louis was married at fifteen to the forty-year-old Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou for dynastic purposes but was left by his wife two years later without having consummated the marriage.

He died at the tender age of twenty in a hunting accident, effectively ending the Carolingian dynasty.

Image: Arno Smit

As nasty as it sounds, a "turd blossom" is a flower that grows from dung, which could be interpreted as a kind of compliment —albeit a very strange one— when given to someone as a nickname.

Karl Rove was George W. Bush’s political advisor, and perhaps he was good at coming up with valuable ideas in dire situations because his moniker was given to him by Bush himself, for reasons we dare not ask. His time in the White House was longer than the life span of his namesake flower because he also worked as an advisor under President Donald Trump.

Image: Valentin Balan

As far as Bulgarian emperors go, Ivaylo wasn’t a very impressive one. He was toppled and replaced quickly, but not before being mocked by the local nobles with a less-than-savory epithet for a king, in the form of "The Cabbage".

His origins as a humble pig farmer might have had something to do with Yvaylo’s nickname, which ungratefully stuck despite his success battling the Byzantines and the Mongols in favor of his country. Tough times for a king, indeed.

Image: Engin Akyurt

Cases of politicians failing to meet the expectations are nothing new. Such was the case for John-George, an Elector of Saxony who chose to spend a big chunk of the Thirty-Year War in the local pub drinking beer instead of fighting for his country. His neighbors, less than impressed by his deeds, named him Beer-Jug. Apparently, there was consensus on the matter, because the name stuck.

Image: Poro amara, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When discussing Napoleon Bonaparte, his stature is one of the first things to be brought up. While the French Emperor was known for his many feats, being a tall individual was not one of them. However, Napoleon was 5′ 6″, making him of average height.

Napoleon was affectionately known as Le Petit Caporal by his soldiers, because of his down-to-earth and educated manners toward his troops. When translated into English, the nickname became The Little Corporal, which gave birth to the myth of his short stature.

Image: Lennart Edling, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

American President and military officer Dwight D. Eisenhower was known as "Ike" throughout his life. His nickname was intended as an abbreviation of his last name and he shared it with all his six brothers, who were known as "Big Ike", "Little Ike" (this was Dwight), etc.

The nickname followed the President-to-be up to the West Point Military Academy, where the "Little" part of his nickname was dropped in favor of simply "Ike".

Image: Ricardo Gomez Angel

Sometimes, a nickname is intended to fit the surname with amusing results. Such is the case of the UFC fighter, Kevin "The Fire" Burns.

While his exploits in the sport are not particularly impressive and his six-year MMA run was quite short, ending his career with a 12-7 record, one has to agree that the man has a funny byname. Maybe not as menacing as it was meant to be in the first place, but still memorable. May the fire burn long in the gloves of Mr. Burns!

Stop! You’ve been using these 11 objects the wrong way

Image: Diana Polekhina

We use countless objects daily without questioning their design, yet many have hidden features or were meant for entirely different purposes. From kitchen tools to bananas, here are 11 everyday items you might be using all wrong—or that at least have surprising secrets built in.

Image: Anastasia Nikitina

Yes, toothpaste was always intended to clean and polish teeth, but its mild abrasives make it effective for cleaning jewelry, removing stains from clothing, and even defogging mirrors.

Interestingly, the first toothpaste-like substance dates back to ancient Egypt, where a blend of pumice and vinegar was used for oral care. Modern toothpaste, which includes ingredients like baking soda—another household staple—explains why it’s so effective on surfaces beyond just teeth.

Image: Markus Winkler

That hole in your pasta spoon isn’t just for draining water; it can also help measure a perfect portion of dry spaghetti!

A single serving of spaghetti is about the amount that fits through the hole. This design prevents cooking too much or too little, though not all pasta spoons have holes large enough for accurate measuring.

Image: engin akyurt

The latch inside gas pump nozzles was originally designed to shut off fuel flow automatically when the tank is full, not to hold the pump open.

Modern pumps use this mechanism as a safety feature, preventing spills and overflows. In some places, using the latch to hold the nozzle open is even illegal due to fire risks.

Image: Karsten Winegeart

Those metal loops on the back of grocery cart seats aren’t just for show—they’re designed to hold plastic bags with fragile items.

Hanging lighter bags here prevents them from being crushed by heavier groceries in the cart, yet few shoppers take advantage of this simple design. So, next time you go shopping, give it a try—it could be a real lifesaver.

Image: Bam Mccarthy

The hole in a soda can tab isn’t just part of the opening mechanism—it can double as a straw holder. Once you pop the can open, turning the tab around aligns the hole perfectly for a straw. This prevents the straw from floating or shifting while drinking.

While this wasn’t the original intent behind the design, it’s a clever and surprisingly convenient way to make use of an otherwise inconsequential design quirk.

Image: Annie Spratt

If you're like me, this has likely been a brain teaser since childhood: What is the blue side of a two-tone eraser for? Popular wisdom says it's for ink removal, but have you ever tried erasing ink with that side? It just completely obliterates the paper.

Well, it turns out the blue side of a two-tone eraser was actually designed for use on heavier paper, not for removing ink.

Image: Matúš Kameniar

The small bumps on the ‘F’ and ‘J’ keys exist to help typists find their hand placement without looking.

These tactile guides help your fingers find their way back to the home row, enabling faster and more efficient typing. Even if you're not a professional typist, you can rely on this feature to improve both speed and accuracy while writing.

Image: Monika Guzikowska

Ever watched a monkey peel a banana? You might be in for a surprise, because it turns out the easiest way to peel a banana is from the bottom, not the stem.

Monkeys naturally pinch the bottom of the banana and pull, avoiding the struggle of breaking the tough stem. This method also reduces the risk of squishing the fruit inside.

Image: Brett Jordan

The small hole at the end of a measuring tape is designed to hook onto nails or screws for one-person measurements. This feature provides a more stable grip when measuring long distances without needing an extra set of hands.

Also, the serrated edge on some tapes doubles as a tool for marking surfaces. So, next time you don't have a buddy around to help, don’t worry—your measuring tape has you covered!

Image: Andrea Davis

Many people use the drawer under their oven for storage, but it was originally designed as a warming drawer.

This compartment keeps cooked food warm while the rest of the meal finishes, though in some modern models, it may simply be intended for extra storage. Checking your oven’s manual might reveal its true purpose.

Image: Mockup Free

Ever heard someone say you can judge a good wine by the depth of the indentation at the bottom of the bottle? Well, that’s a myth, though it may suggest a better-designed bottle.

The indent at the bottom of a wine bottle, called a punt, helps distribute pressure and maintain structural integrity. Originally designed to support the bottle against carbonation in sparkling wines, it’s now mostly tradition but still improves durability.