Word of the Day, April 1, 2023

April 1, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [calamari]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) Squid prepared as food. Synonyms: [squid]( Usage: Lisa ordered calamari at the Italian restaurant. Missing Idiom Contest The Free Dictionary has the largest collection of English idioms in the world. But we are always looking for more to add, and we want your help! Every so often we hear from users who have looked up an idiom on The Free Dictionary that it was not found in the database. 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 Punctuation Rules [Complete English Punctuation Rules] An Amazon Best Seller! The only punctuation guide with simple, easy-to-remember rules for how to use—and not use—every punctuation mark. ✔ Side-by-side examples of both correct and incorrect punctuation. ✔ Quizzes after every topic to help you retain what you learn. [Buy now]( Idiom of the Day [desperate times call for desperate measures]( — Extreme and undesirable circumstances or situations can only be resolved by resorting to equally extreme actions. Derived from the proverb, "Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies." ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day The Philly Cheesesteak [Discuss]( The Philly Cheesesteak is a sandwich of steak, cheese, and onions that is considered to be a city icon. Responsibility for its invention is claimed by Philadelphia's Olivieri brothers, who began selling it at their hot dog stand near south Philadelphia's Italian Market in the 1930s. Today, a number of long-running rival establishments each claim loyal followings, and Philadelphians enthusiastically debate the merits of each shop's recipe. What types of cheese are commonly used on cheesesteaks? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Forming the First Conditional [Discuss]( The first conditional is very similar in structure to the zero conditional. We still use "if" plus the present simple to create the condition, except that we now use what tense to describe a probable result of the condition? [More...]( This Day in History Netherlands Becomes First Country to Allow Same-Sex Marriage (2001) [Discuss]( In 1997, a Dutch parliamentary commission tasked with investigating the advisability of same-sex unions concluded that same-sex couples should be given the right to enter into civil marriages. Legislation was finalized in late 2000, and at the stroke of midnight on April 1, 2001, four same-sex couples were married by the mayor of Amsterdam, making the Netherlands the first nation to legally recognize same-sex marriages. How many same-sex couples took advantage of the new law in that first year? [More...]( Today's Birthday Otto von Bismarck (1815) [Discuss]( Bismarck was a 19th-century Prussian and German statesman. Under his leadership, Prussia defeated Austria and France, and Germany was united. He was appointed premier in 1862 and became chancellor of the North German Confederation in 1867. When the new German Empire formed in 1871, he became its first chancellor, gaining almost complete control of foreign and domestic affairs and eventually earning the nickname "Iron Chancellor." What was the Kulturkampf, and why did he encourage it? [More...]( Today's Holiday Greek Cypriot National Day [Discuss]( This holiday marks the anniversary of the 1955 start of the [Greek Cypriot]( liberation struggle against British colonial forces. The [Turkish community]( which preferred an alliance with Turkey, also took up arms, complicating the struggle. Greek Cypriot National Day is celebrated in South [Cyprus]( which is the Greek partitioned part of the island. Almost all public services and most private shops are closed. The holiday is often celebrated with parades in city streets, along with music, dancing and flag-waving. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them. 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