Who is Scott of 'Great Scott!'? | | The "Scott" in "Great Scott!" isn't fictional. This old-fashioned exclamation traces back to a very real 19th-century figure whose reputation was literally something people swore by. | |  | Tony Dunnell |
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| |  | | I f you grew up watching the Back to the Future movies, you'll be familiar with "Great Scott!" as Emmett "Doc" Brown's exclamation of choice for every surprise, mishap, and temporal paradox that occurs during the trilogy. But Christopher Lloyd's character was far from the first to use the phrase. The antiquated expression of astonishment emerged in the mid-1800s and remained popular through at least the early 1900s before falling out of fashion — until Doc Brown gave it a second life.
But who, exactly, is the Scott in question, and what was so great about him? While a few notable individuals with the surname Scott have been linked with the phrase, including the Scottish novelist and historian Sir Walter Scott, etymologists tend to point to one man as the inspiration behind the idiom: General Winfield Scott. This Scott was a towering figure in his day. He was a hero of the Mexican-American War, became the last Whig Party candidate to run (unsuccessfully) for U.S. president, and served as the commanding general of the United States Army when the Civil War began in 1861. He was also 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed about 230 pounds in his prime, making him physically a great figure. |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | Smiling Cat With Heart Eyes | | | Meaning: Depicts a cat's face with a big smile and hearts in place of eyes.
Evolution: This is the feline version of the Heart Eyes emoji 😍, and it carries about the same meaning: "Cute!" Why a cat? The origin is unclear, but cat emojis 🙀😺😼have been part of the emoji library since the beginning.
Usage: [Text from a friend:] OMG that is the cutest thing I've ever seen 😻😻😻 |
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| | Smiling Cat With Heart Eyes | | | Meaning: Depicts a cat's face with a big smile and hearts in place of eyes.
Evolution: This is the feline version of the Heart Eyes emoji 😍, and it carries about the same meaning: "Cute!" Why a cat? The origin is unclear, but cat emojis 🙀😺😼have been part of the emoji library since the beginning.
Usage: [Text from a friend:] OMG that is the cutest thing I've ever seen 😻😻😻 |
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Have you read? | |  | | Island at the Edge of the World | | By Mike Pitts | | Easter Island, an island territory of Chile in the south Pacific Ocean, is one of the most remote locations in the world. Its Native name is Rapa Nui, and the land's massive stone statues — moai — are internationally recognizable. Much of the island's history is cloaked in mystery, but British archaeologist Mike Pitts reveals some of Rapa Nui's secrets in "Island at the Edge of the World." | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | Island at the Edge of the World | | By Mike Pitts | | Easter Island, an island territory of Chile in the south Pacific Ocean, is one of the most remote locations in the world. Its Native name is Rapa Nui, and the land's massive stone statues — moai — are internationally recognizable. Much of the island's history is cloaked in mystery, but British archaeologist Mike Pitts reveals some of Rapa Nui's secrets in "Island at the Edge of the World." | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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You might also like | |  | | | | How Does a Translator Translate a Book? | | Have you ever wondered how your favorite stories cross languages without losing their magic? Let's pull back the curtain on literary translation to reveal the research, creativity, and careful choices that bring books to life in a new language. |
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