Every Book and Cranny
In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute to save this younger sister from being forced into the arena.
Prim or primrose
This theatrical phrase is used to wish a performer a good preformance right before a show, even though it literally sounds like you want them to get hurt.
Break a Leg
Sweets, lanterns, and a large feast mark Eid al-Fitr, a major Islamic celebration that marks the official end of this month of fasting.
ramadan
The iPhone is first released, the Harry Potter film franchise dominates theaters, and Disney's High School Musical becomes a global phenomenon.
This specific branch of astrology uses your exact birth date and time to assign you one of twelve star signs, such as Leo, Taurus, or Scorpio.
Worn on construction sites for safety, this durable plastic headgear protects workers from falling debris.
hard hat
In Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Percy discovers his real father is this powerful, trident-wielding Greek god of the sea.
poseidon (:O)
This three-word phrase means you have finally found a sign of hope or success after going through a long, difficult, and dark period.
light at the end of the tunnel
Originating in Mexico, this vibrant holiday features colorful decorations and family altars to honor and remember ancestors who have passed away.
(day of the dead) dia de los muertos
Marvel's The Avengers kicks off a MASSIVE superhero era, and the Harlem Shake becomes a MMMASSIVE viral video trend.
2010's
Represented by the twins, people born under this third sign of the zodiac (May 21 – June 20) are traditionally known for being highly social and talkative.
gemini
This large, heavy-duty vehicle uses a massive, articulated arm with a bucket on the end to dig trenches and scoop up soil.
excavator
In S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, this is the specific, tragic event that forces Ponyboy and Johnny to run away and hide in an abandoned church.
Johnny killing Bob (the Soc)
If you are told this phrase, you are being told to speak directly and get straight to the main point. Why it is called this, I have NO IDEA.
beating around the bush
This Jewish spring festival features a special ritual meal called a Seder to retell the biblical story of freedom from slavery in ancient Egypt.
passover
The Berlin Wall falls, the internet is invented, and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) brings Super Mario Bros. into living rooms.
1980's
Represented by the Ram, this fire sign kicks off the astrological year on March 21.
aries
Made of a mixture of water, aggregate, and cement, this heavy liquid material is poured into molds and dries into a stone-like solid.
concrete
This magical fantasy novel features characters like Hermione, Ron, and many more.
hairy potter
This phrase means to steal someone else's attention, praise, or glory, and comes from an 18th-century playwright whose actual sound-effect invention was copied by a rival theater.
steal someones thunder
This seven-day African American cultural holiday is celebrated from December 26 to January 1, focusing on family, community, and seven core principles.
Kuanza
Regular television broadcasts begin, A war reshapes global borders, and the first electronic digital computer (ENIAC) is built.
1940's
Astrology divides the 12 signs into four natural elements, and on of them includes Libra and Aquarius.
air
This temporary structure made of metal poles and wooden planks is built against the side of a building to give workers a platform to stand on high up.
scaffolding
Atticus Finch, a principled lawyer, defends Tom Robinson in a racially charged trial in this classic American novel told from the perspective of Scout Finch.
to kill a mockingbird
This dramatic phrase means to do something that makes it completely impossible to return to an earlier state or reverse your decision.
burn your brigdes
In many Latin American cultures, this milestone celebration marks a girl's 15th birthday, transitioning her from childhood to young womanhood with a massive party and a formal gown.
Quinceañera
The Titanic tragically sinks, the first commercial radio broadcast airs, and fights between territories become evident.
1910's
This planetary event happens three to four times a year, creating a popular internet meme where people blame a specific planet for communication breakdowns.
meurcury retrograde
These steel mesh or ridged bars are embedded inside concrete structure walls and pillars to give them extra tensile strength.
rebar