The moving and the talking!

Did you know body parts can also be verbs? Here are many examples!

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Our body takes us to all kinds of places, but not only in the literal sense. You can head a meeting, shoulder a responsibility, or eye someone suspiciously. Some words started as simple body parts, but evolved to take on actions and meanings that go far beyond anatomy! Are you ready to flex your brain?

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You might head something like a company or a movement, in any case, you’re the person in charge. This makes perfect sense, since your head is, well, at the top of your body!

The word comes from Old English heafod, meaning the top or chief part of something. In time, it became a handy verb that keeps things moving forward, literally and figuratively.

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To shoulder something means to take on responsibility or carry a burden. It’s no surprise where this comes from, after all, your shoulders are built to bear weight!

This usage dates back to the 14th century when it referred to physically carrying things. Eventually, it took on a more figurative meaning, like shouldering blame or responsibility.

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To back someone means to support them, whether it’s a friend, a cause, or a winning horse at the racetrack.

This makes sense because your back provides strength and stability. The verb form of "back" has been around since the 14th century, originally meaning to push something forward or stand behind it. Today, it has multiple meanings but they all go back to the idea of support and assistance.

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To toe the line means to follow the rules, but where does that come from? It dates back to 19th-century military drills, where soldiers had to stand with their toes exactly in a line for inspection.

The phrase evolved to mean strict obedience in all the fields, from sports to business, or politics. It’s a sign of good behavior and appreciation for order. Quite necessary, don’t you think?

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To skin something means to remove its outer layer, but it also has a more dramatic meaning: Escaping by the skin of your teeth. This odd phrase comes from the Bible’s Book of Job, where it meant surviving with almost nothing left.

In modern usage, "skinning" something can mean barely avoiding disaster. You might skin your knee falling off a bike, or skin by on just enough money. Which of these have you experienced?

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We say muscle, you think of strength, don’t you? That’s right, to muscle your way into something means to use strength, either physical or persuasive, to get what you want.

Whether you’re muscling through a tough workout or muscling your way into an exclusive club, the meaning is quite clear. It’s been used this way since the early 1900s, especially in sports and business.

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You know when there’s only one slice of cake left and you patiently wait and wish nobody else grab it? You look at it carefully, in the hope you are the one to eat it. Well, you actually eye it!

The verb, first recorded in the 17th century, was used to mean looking at something with intent. Today, we use it for everything from sizing up a deal to checking out a new car.

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Have you ever gone backpacking, with no transport booked, just you and your thumb to take you places? To thumb a ride means to hitchhike, sticking your thumb out on the roadside and hoping for the best.

This practice became common in the early 20th century when travelers relied on the kindness of passing drivers. The thumb became the universal signal for needing a lift, and the verb stuck.

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To stomach something means to tolerate it, even when it’s unpleasant. This makes sense since our stomachs are in charge of digesting (or rejecting) things we consume.

The verb form has been around since the 16th century, but it originally meant taking something in without protest. Today, we use it for everything from bad news to terrible fashion choices. If you can stomach it, you can get through just about anything!

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No hidden meaning in the last body part/verb: When you mouth something, you’re moving your lips without making a sound, like lip-syncing or whispering in a way no one can hear.

Back in the 16th century, "mouthing" referred to exaggerated speech. Today, we use it for silent apologies, or to pretend we know song lyrics, a lot of possible scenarios. You’ll just need to be careful, if you mouth off too much, you might find yourself in trouble!

In the heart of communication

Don’t get lost in translation: Learn about 10 untranslatable words!

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Translations have made it possible for us to access an endless amount of information available in the world. And for many professionals in the field, there are no such things are "untranslatable" words. However, languages have a way of putting a whole concept within a few letters assembled together and even though we can describe it, there are no direct translations that make it possible to transfer all the glory behind them. So, we’ve gathered 10 words from different languages that show how each language has a charm of its own.

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Ever shared a look with someone where neither of you wants to make the first move, but you both know what you want? That’s mamihlapinatapai, a word from the Yaghan language of indigenous people from Tierra del Fuego.

It describes the moment when two people are waiting for the other to take the first step towards something they both desire. This word, which even made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the "most succinct," describes how subtle, and sometimes awkward human interactions can be. Mind you, it’s not always about the romance of a love spark!

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Technology has made relationship bridges much shorter, but there’s nothing quite like seeing an old friend after a long time apart, and the Basque word aspaldiko reflects that feeling perfectly.

It expresses the joy of reuniting with someone after ages, and if you try to translate it "long time no see" is a full understatement.

You can also use it to greet someone, "Aspaldiko!" can show how thrilled you are to be catching up after a while. Joyful words indeed and we could all use a little more of this word in our lives, don’t you think?

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Have you ever run your fingers through someone’s hair as a gesture of affection? Intimate and loving, the feeling is unique and the Brazilian dialect of Portuguese has a word for it. That tender act is called cafuné in this beautiful language.

It’s a simple yet intimate gesture, often between people who love and trust each other. The word itself has roots in the Yoruba language, which was brought to Brazil by African enslaved people, yet another proof that language can carry deep cultural history. From a mother soothing a child or a partner offering comfort, cafuné conveys a soft kind of love that words alone can’t fully capture.

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Do you enjoy going for a walk? It’s a good way to reset our brain, and we all need that at some point in our days. Well, as long as the weather is appropriate, right? If you’ve ever taken a walk on a windy day to clear your head, you have experienced uitwaaien, you just didn’t have the word for it!

This Dutch word means "to blow out," and it refers to the refreshing practice of walking or jogging in the wind to relieve stress and recharge. Any walk? Not necessarily, it especially refers to walks in cold, blustery weather, but it works year-round for anyone who loves the feeling of wind on their face, anyway. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, why not go out and get a good uitwaaien?

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Are you a book lover? We don’t mean to strike a chord, but how many books in your library are still on your "to-be-read" list? Every book lover has been there, we all buy more books than we can possibly read.

The difference is that the Japanese have a word for that: tsundoku. It combines two concepts which are tsumu, meaning "to pile up," and doku, meaning "to read," describing the habit of letting books accumulate unread.

Don’t worry, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. It’s actually a sign of your love for books and the endless curiosity that keeps you collecting them. If this sounds like your bookshelf, don’t worry, you’re in good company. After all, you can never have too many books, right?

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You know that feeling when you’re trying to speak a foreign language you barely know? Too many words for a feeling so clear, and so relatable. Fear not, the Japanese language is out to save us once more: They call it yoko meshi, which literally translates to "horizontal meal" and makes no sense at first sight.

It’s a quirky way of describing the stress of trying to converse in a non-native tongue, like you’re eating a meal sideways, which is awkward and equally difficult. We’ve all been there, especially when traveling or meeting new people, knowing the words in theory but fumbling under pressure. Yoko meshi captures that mental exhaustion that comes from not just speaking, but worrying about saying the right thing.

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Who doesn’t melt in the sigh of a puppy? The cuteness bar goes over the top when you see a little puppy taking their first steps or sleeping, right? Well, if you can relate to that feeling of wanting to squeeze them, you need to know the word for it.

That’s gigil, a delightful Tagalog word from the Philippines. It’s not simply joy or excitement, but a whole mix of emotions, like being overwhelmed by adorableness. Gigil is that irresistible urge to pinch cheeks or let out a high-pitched "aww!" Do you know what we mean?

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If you’ve ever looked out the window on a sunny winter day and thought, "It looks great out there!" only to step outside and instantly regret it, congratulations, you’ve experienced gluggaveður.

This Icelandic word means literally "window weather," and it’s as funny as it sounds: It describes those days when the weather seems perfect from indoors but is deceivingly harsh once you’re outside. It’s the kind of cold that makes you gasp, despite the bright sunshine. Icelanders, who deal with this often, know better than to trust a sunny day in winter without checking the forecast!

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For those of us who always enjoy, love actually, travel, the German word fernweh will resonate deeply. It describes a longing for far-off places, similar to wanderlust, but with a stronger, almost painful desire to be somewhere else, can you identify the feeling?

It’s that of being restless, like the world is calling your name, and you just have to answer, to put it in poetic words. It’s the opposite of homesickness, which pulls you toward familiar comforts; fernweh pushes you toward the unknown, to new adventures. Do you relate to that?

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Ever kept eating after you were full, simply because the food was too delicious? We know we have! In Georgia, (the country, of course) there’s a word for that: shemomedjamo, which literally means "I accidentally ate the whole thing."

Accidentally might not be entirely true, but it refers to that moment when your stomach is signaling it’s had enough, and at the same time your taste buds are demanding just one more bite. It’s a common feeling when enjoying the flavorful cuisine of Georgia, known for its rich and hearty dishes. We’ve all been guilty of this, haven’t we?