ContestsEvents

LISTEN LIVE

People Are Giving ‘Badly’ Named Things ‘Better’ Names

Have you ever thought about the name of something and said to yourself, “There’s a way better name for that?” Well, someone on Reddit decided to ask the internet, “What…

Portrait of pensive young mixed race woman with hand on chin looking away isolated on gray background.
Ridofranz/ Getty Images

Have you ever thought about the name of something and said to yourself, "There's a way better name for that?" Well, someone on Reddit decided to ask the internet, "What is badly named, and what is a better name for it?" Once something becomes known as one name, those names are very rarely changed.  But that won't stop people from fantasizing.

Some words and phrases just don't make sense. Maybe their original meaning has been lost to time, or the definitions of individual words have shifted. For example, the phrase "cold turkey" has nothing to do with cold turkey. But the phrase is known to many as quitting something. So, naturally, some people feel like some words may be better one way or another.

According to the Science Museum of Virginia, naming is a way of placing order in our world by helping us differentiate between things. Also, it helps others know what we refer to when having conversations.

Reddit Comes Up With Better Names

Someone hilariously kicked off the thread saying, "Dentures. Should be Substitooths." Another person decided that "Jet ski" just isn’t it. They said, "Jet ski. Dumb name. Obviously it is a Boatercycle."

Although a person confused "contractions" with "labor contractions" they were on to something with their "better" name. They mentioned that they should be named "Birthquakes."

Several people mentioned foods that need a name change too. For instance, olives should be called "Greece's Pieces" and donuts should be referred to as "Sugar bagels." One person said, "A red onion is quite clearly a purple onion."

"My daughter said podcasts should be called Ear TV, which I wholeheartedly agree with esp as the name podcasts is basically anachronistic now with the demise of iPods," a Redditor shared.

Of course, there are some raunchier responses in the thread. See more "badly" named things and their "better" names here.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.