The Remote Life
This three-word phrase is the most frequently uttered warning on Zoom when someone tries to speak while their microphone is turned off.
What is "you're on mute."
This mythical, single-horned equine is the official national animal of Scotland.
What is a unicorn?
This spooky October holiday is historically rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts.
What is Halloween?
This standard breakfast food is traditionally flipped over in a skillet, resulting in variations like "sunny-side up" or "over-easy."
What is an egg?
This classic hand tool features a loop of wires and is used to vigorously beat eggs, whip heavy cream, or incorporate air into a batter.
What is a whisk?
This cozy piece of loungewear saw a historic 400% surge in sales during 2020 as professionals traded slacks for comfort.
What are sweatpants?
According to European folklore, this shape-shifting creature can only be stopped by a weapon forged from solid silver.
What is a werewolf?
Celebrated widely in the United States, this autumn holiday famously features a massive morning parade in New York City organized by a major department store.
What is Thanksgiving?
This popular Italian dish consists of flattened dough topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese, and various toppings baked in a hot oven.
What is pizza?
To prevent cross-contamination between raw meats and fresh vegetables, professional chefs recommend using separate varieties of this flat workspace board.
Video platforms like Microsoft Teams allow you to apply this digital effect to your background to hide a messy room or a roaming pet.
What is the blur effect?
This legendary Greek city, famous for its hidden wealth and advanced technology, supposedly sank entirely into the ocean in a single day and night.
What is Atlantis?
This vibrant, multi-day winter holiday is celebrated by over a billion people worldwide and is deeply tied to the lunar calendar, with each year named after one of 12 animals.
What is Lunar New Year (or Chinese New Year)?
Short on name but massive on flavor, this comforting, aromatic noodle soup is recognized globally as the national dish of Vietnam.
What is pho?
This popular countertop appliance uses a high-powered fan to circulate intense heat, allowing you to get "deep-fried" crispiness on things like fries or chicken wings using little to no oil.
What is an air fryer?
To prevent your status from changing to "Away" while you step into the kitchen, some remote workers use this unauthorized physical gadget or software to subtly nudge their cursor.
What is a mouse jiggler?
In Egyptian mythology, this creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human would strangle anyone who failed to solve its complex riddles.
What is the Sphinx?
Celebrated every year on March 17th, it is custom to wear this specific color on St. Patrick's Day to avoid getting pinched.
What is green?
This popular Mexican street food dish features a soft or crispy corn tortilla wrapped around a filling, and its name literally translates to "plug" or "wedge" in Spanish.
What is a taco?
This bowl-shaped kitchen strain tool is perforated with tiny holes, making it the go-to gadget for draining boiled pasta or rinsing vegetables.
What is a strainer?
In remote work culture, a "ghost" isn't a spooky spirit, but rather an employee who does this specific, quiet action on a team messaging app.
What is lurking (reading messages but never typing or reacting?
This massive, ape-like creature is said to roam the forests of North America, leaving behind giant footprints that give it this popular two-word nickname.
What is Bigfoot (or Sasquatch)?
Falling on February 2nd, this quirky seasonal holiday relies entirely on a North American rodent named Phil to "predict" whether spring will arrive early.
What is Groundhog Day?
Originating in Greece, this crumbly, white brined cheese is traditionally made from sheep's milk and is a mandatory topping on a classic Greek salad.
What is feta cheese?
This French culinary term refers to a small, handy countertop appliance used for quick cooking tasks like sautéing small batches of onions or mushrooms.
What is a skillet?