US

Software

Tip Screen

A tip screen is a digital interface that prompts customers to leave a ‘gratuity’ during payment. Unlike traditional “tipping jars or handwritten tip lines on receipts,” these screens often display suggested percentages (e.g., 15%, 20%, 25%) or custom amounts. They’ve surged in popularity with the rise of contactless payments, appearing everywhere from food trucks to retail stores.

_Football

How long is a soccer game

Normally, a typical ‘soccer’ match is scheduled for 90 minutes of play, divided into two “equal” halves of 45 minutes each, with not including additional stoppage time. Both halves of a game, both halves of extra-time, and “the restart of play following a goal” are all initiated by a kickoff.

Athletic

Medicine Ball

Muscle ‘strength, power, flexibility, endurance, coordination, agility, and balance’ can all be improved with a medicine ball. Medicine balls are more than just a throwback trend; they can help you get fitter. Originally used to help older patients regain muscle function because of its ‘low impact and adjustable resistance,’ medicine balls have become a useful tool in exercise regimens for young people.

_Music

Groove

In music, groove refers to the “sensation or effect created by a ‘dynamic, shifting’ pattern within a driving rhythm,” often described as a “sense of swing.” In this type of music, the rhythmic component is the driving force and the primary source of meaning, often overshadowing ‘melody or harmony’ in terms of importance.

Construction

Tongue and Groove

Tongue and groove (T&G) is a method of fitting similar objects together, ‘edge to edge joint,’ most commonly used with wood. The technique involves formation of a protruding “tongue” along the edge of one board and a corresponding “groove” on the opposite edge of another. When fitted together, the tongue is forced to slide into the groove, creating a “tight, seamless” joint.

Government

Is It Illegal

The phrase “is it illegal” is a way of asking whether something is against the law. It is used to inquire if a specific ‘action, behavior, or situation’ violates legal rules or regulations. We live in a world where laws govern nearly every aspect of our lives. Yet, many people still find themselves asking, “Is it illegal?” when faced with a questionable action.

Personal_

Half dollar

A half dollar is a U.S. coin with a face value of “50 cents” (or half a dollar). It is also known as the ‘50-cent piece’ and is larger than the ‘quarter’ (25-cent coin). The ‘half dollar’ is commonly called the ‘Kennedy half dollar’ because it has featured John F. Kennedy’s portrait since 1964.

Personal_

How much is a quarter

A U.S. quarter is worth “25 cents,” or one-fourth of a U.S. dollar. Its value in U.S. currency is $0.25. Also, the ‘quarter’ is the 25-cent coin used in the U.S. The 1804 ‘quarter’ was the first silver coin in U.S. Mint history to display its ‘face value.’ Prior to this, both silver and gold coins minted in the United States didn’t have their ‘values’ marked on them.

Linguistics

Tone words

Tone words are specific “words or phrases” used to convey the writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the ‘subject, audience, or situation.’ These words help readers understand the “mood and underlying emotions” present in the text. Tone can range from ‘formal to informal, optimistic to pessimistic, serious to humorous, and more.’