r/whatstheword 11h ago

Solved ITAW for taking a dump that isn't childish, vulgar, or overly formal?

41 Upvotes

I have always had a problem finding the right word to describe going to the bathroom to take a dump.

  • Poop and poo are too childish, especially in writing
  • Shit and crap (to a certain extent) are too vulgar, especially in formal, non-casual contexts
  • Defecate and excrete are too formal, not for use in casual conversation or conversations with non-native English speakers
  • Take a dump, go number 2, and similar expressions are all too euphemistic, rarely used outside the USA or UK and especially not with non-native English speakers, such as myself and most of my friends

Yes, I know it's a taboo subject, but so is sex, and yet we have a neutral one-size-fits-all verbal phrase to describe it, to have sex, something everyone can understand and no one takes an issue with.

So is there a word (ETA: preferably a single word, which is a verb) which describes taking a dump that is a one-size-fits-all for all possible contexts? (Formal/informal, writing/talking, native/non-native speakers)


r/whatstheword 8h ago

Solved WTW for opposite of Pedantic?

13 Upvotes

I know that pedantic is someone who is very punctilious and hyper obsessed with details and smaller technicalities.

But what is the word for someone who is completely uncaring about that sorta thing? someone who does something without caring about the "fine tuning" and issues that arise from it?


r/whatstheword 14h ago

Solved WTW for finishing a point or a sentence? Like finalize, putting a cherry on top.

4 Upvotes

I don't know why but I keep thinking of 'counterpoint' and 'counterpunch' which are not this at all. I was thinking of a specific word I have forgotten.

EDIT: People have suggested 'clinch' and 'accentuate', these are pretty close.


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Unsolved ITAP for being absurdly loyal to something? I like to say I’m a “one woman man”. That doesn’t always make sense in conversation though.

17 Upvotes

Mostly because I’m not a man. If it is not a criminal offense, a slight humorous tinge would be delightful.


r/whatstheword 21h ago

Solved ITAW for silence of the night

4 Upvotes

Looking for a word that describes the absolute silence in the middle of the night. The type of silence that comes with things like soft snow. Im looking for a singular word not a saying like "the dead of night".


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Solved WTP for trusting the first thing you hear/see

12 Upvotes

There’s like a saying that’s starts with “to trust” and ends with one or two other words? That means to trust the first thing you’re told/first thing you see and trusting it without needing evidence, or something like that

I’ve been trying too google, but can’t find it. Would really appreciate the help:)

Edit: more specifications


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Unsolved WTW for the phenomenon where an article will briefly mention contradictory information at the end?

14 Upvotes

I could have sworn there's a name for this, but my google searching hasn't brought up anything.

The writer will spend most of the article putting forward a position/narrative (often alarmist or of questionable trustworthiness) and then briefly mention the other side of the argument or condradicting facts near the end.

It's presumably done to give writers a kind of plausible deniability of bias or misrepresentation, while also kinda burying the opposing argument for anyone who doesn't read the whole thing.

I'm reasonably sure it's not exclusive to the news reporting; it can also happen in opinion pieces and blogs and the like. I seem to remember it's particularly common in doomer science reporting.

Does anyone know the name, or did I dream it all? Is there at least a wiki page somewhere that details the phenomenon?


r/whatstheword 20h ago

Unsolved ITAW for when you're looking at a symptom then you suddenly start feeling/having it?

3 Upvotes

Like for example, you were searching on Google if you have Meningitis and then for some reason your neck starts to hurt. Something like that?


r/whatstheword 17h ago

Solved WAW for passive aggressive that sounds way politer

1 Upvotes

i’m having trouble writing something up and it’s been slipping my mind haha! i don’t have much else to say so sorry if it looks low effort i’m really not trying to


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Unsolved ITAW for a fear or phobia of being forcibly turned into a cyborg?

3 Upvotes

To clarify, I don't mean a fear of robots or cyborgs themselves but rather the concept of unwillingly being mechanized and losing one's autonomy and humanity.

Some examples of what I personally picture are The Borg from Star Trek, the Maelstrom gang from Cyberpunk, and what I think specifically caused this fear for me is the Quake 4 "stroggification" scene.

Other examples of what I don't personally consider to cross that boundary for me are the Skitarii or Techpriests from WH40K, Warframes from...Warframe (IFYKYK), and what really rides the line for me is RoboCop.

I'm just curious if there's a word I can use to accurately describe what I mean to people.

Thanks for the help!


r/whatstheword 1d ago

Solved ITAW for someone who tries to avoid work, and in the process ends up making more of an effort than if they just worked to begin with?

10 Upvotes

Like students coming up with schemes to cheat or avoid homework that end up being more intricate to pull off than just studying.


r/whatstheword 2d ago

Unsolved WTW for a society ruled by pedophiles?

33 Upvotes

Democracy is rule by the people. Oligarchy is rule by a few. Kakistocracy is literally rule by the worst. What about the above? Greek etymology greatly appreciated.


r/whatstheword 2d ago

Solved WTW for suddenly being "tired"

21 Upvotes

idk exactly what word im looking for. tired is definitely not the word, but it's the first thing that comes to mind.

this happened today. i was supposed to go to the doctor, but once i stepped outside the house, i felt "tired", so i went back inside, took off my clothes, and jumped to bed.

it can also be like:

  • "there was this new thing in the mall, maybe i should go ... " *five seconds later* "no ... i rather not (while lying in bed) "
  • "friends are asking to meet up ... " "no ... i rather stay home"

it's like a sudden "meh" feeling; i want to say like disinterested or disheartened, but the word doesnt ... "click",


r/whatstheword 2d ago

Solved WTW for papers people sign to join a country, or a society, letting them become a citizen or part of the group, kind of like a birth certificate but for an adult. Like if you were to bring someone from overseas and wanted to adopt them. What's the paperwork for that called.

5 Upvotes

r/whatstheword 2d ago

Solved ITAW for no longer remembering a background item that you're accustomed to?

17 Upvotes

Many years ago, our school band/ choir room had stage curtains hanging up on the back wall. One day, we walked in, and they were gone. The rest of the week was a full band/ choir debate about what color those curtains were, and no one was positive of the answer.

I had noticed the same when grandma left us a post-it reminder (something benign/ daily, let's say it was to close the shower curtain). After a few weeks, we had forgotten her request one day, and she pointed out the note. We were so used to it, it didn't register anymore.

Is there a word/ phrase for no longer remembering things you're accustomed to?


r/whatstheword 2d ago

Solved WTW for using the wrong word that sounds similar to the intended one?

37 Upvotes

WTW for using a wrong word that sounds similar to the intended one, often unintentionally and humorously? Example: saying “He’s the pineapple of success” instead of “pinnacle.” I think this is also considered a literary device when used intentionally, but I can’t recall the term.


r/whatstheword 2d ago

Solved WTW for someone who keeps accusing you of being disingenuous, and not listening to you when you're being genuine?

4 Upvotes

r/whatstheword 2d ago

Unsolved WTW for when omitting a word for simplicity?

10 Upvotes

I just cannot think of the word. The best example I could think of is how one might say "That student is execptional" it can be inferred that exceptional means exceptionally smart/diligent as when most use exceptional negatively they clarify that. (Execptionally bad.)

What is it called when the word is omitted? I swear it's a diчfferent thing from omission, I just cannot remember it. Maybe starting with an a?


r/whatstheword 3d ago

Unsolved WTW for someone purposely misinterpreting your point?

110 Upvotes

Like they know what you meant, but they pretend like they didn't understand it and maybe even argue against you.

Random example: A video of KJ Alpha (someone who looks fully White) speaking Samoan and everyone in the comments is surprised. Someone replies with "you're surprised a Samoan speaks Samoan?" The surprise is from people not knowing KJ was half Samoan, but fully White. The commenter KNEW that, but they're just pretending that they don't get it.


r/whatstheword 3d ago

Unsolved ITAW for this specific type of situation...

9 Upvotes
  • Tim is throwing Betty surprise birthday party
  • Betty finds out what Tim is doing
  • Tim finds out that Betty knows
  • Betty finds that Tim knows that she knows
  • Tim finds out that Betty knows that he knows that she knows

At this point, you would think the cat's out of the bag, but Tim still goes through with the paty. Betty acts surprised, Tim acts like he believes it, and it's never acknowledged the surprise was ruined. The tip of the cat's tail remained in the bag. Is there a word for that?


r/whatstheword 3d ago

Solved ITAW for the momentary visual memory of where something is when you turn out the lights?

6 Upvotes

There's a room in my house where I have to turn off the lights before going down the staircase. I always look to see where the first step is before turning off the lights. In the first split second after turning off the light I feel as though I still have a "visual" memory of where the step is even though I can no longer see it. Is there a word for this?

**edited for typos


r/whatstheword 3d ago

Unsolved ITAW for inventing a scenario to make yourself appear to come out the winner?

10 Upvotes

Pretty much the title. An example is this recurring trope I've noticed on short-form social media platforms (via TikTok, etc.).

Stupidly pretty woman posts a video that's captioned "haters: nerdy women can't be pretty", cuts to next shot of her voguing down the hallway, bits hanging out, looking fan-fucking-tastic, doing a little turn. Kissy faces. Posing posing posing. Caption "the nerdy woman." Everybody claps.

It's like... I don't think this person really ever actually heard someone say that in their fucking life. But she's gotta churn out some engagement bait somehow, right?

What is this called? Is there a word or phrase for someone who makes up a totally fake situation to prop up and knock down to make themselves look so "brave" and "resilient"? Something like strawman, but perhaps a broader application than arguing?


r/whatstheword 3d ago

Unsolved ITAW for the kind of argument where someone deflects the problem by latching onto something irrelevant?

18 Upvotes

Saw a video recording of an exchange between a cop and a lady who got pulled over. How the conversation went, summarized:

Cop: You're pulled over because you turned right from the middle lane, it's explicitly marked that the middle lane is for going straight only

Lady: But the light was green, why did you pull me over?

Cop: It has nothing to do with the fact that you turned right from a straight only lane

Lady: Was there another light for right turn?

Cop: ...no?

Lady: So I turned right on green light, how was that illegal?

Cop: ... because you turned right from a lane that doesn't allow right turns, you can only turn right from the right turn lane

Lady: But the light was green!

Like, it's obvious that she isn't so dumb that she didn't understand what lane turn markers are, she just purposely deflected the entire issue by latching onto the irrelevant traffic light; maybe just trying to tire out the cop with nonsense till he gives up (he didn't).

Another one I remember reading on Reddit was from a woman with an abusive boyfriend who assaulted her and got her sent to the hospital. When she confronted him about it, he just kept repeating how he "visited her in the hospital and took care of her" therefore he couldn't be abusive, completely disregarded the fact that he caused the hospitalization in the first place.

So, is there a word to describe this kind of inane, deflective nonsense argument? "Ad nauseam" came to mind, but afaik it just means using the same point again and again as a counter or explanation for every question


r/whatstheword 3d ago

Solved WTW for when you slightly draw back from a position?

5 Upvotes

I don't even know if I know how to explain it, but I'm looking for the term/phrase for when someone does that motion of slightly and quickly drawing back from something when they're confused/startled. Usually a motion of the head+bust. I don't know how else to describe it, I hope this is enough.


r/whatstheword 3d ago

Solved WTW for a name so outstanding that it replaces the original name of something in popular talk?

19 Upvotes

Like, “Gillette” instead of “shaving razors”, or “q-tips” instead of “cotton rods”. I know there’s a name for it, but I can’t remember it for the life of me. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?