Wood
This common writing instrument used by children is covered in wood.
What is a pencil? Wood covers the graphite-and-clay composite used as a writing medium. It’s a myth that pencils are made with lead.
Meaning of et cetera, or etc.
What is “and so on”? It also means “and so forth” as well as “and others.”
Louisa May Alcott’s Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy share this last name in Little Women.
What is March? The characters are based on Alcott’s own family. Jo is the most outspoken and determined of the sisters, aspiring to become an author.
Everywhere you look, you will find these sales in August.
What are back-to-school sales? School now starts in August, not the day after Labor Day, as it did during the mid-20th century.
“What a Wonderful World” is a forever memorable tune by this artist, whose nickname is Satchmo.
Who is Louis Armstrong? Many have covered his tunes, including this one, but his inimitable voice exudes feeling and soul like no other.
This large wooden boat in the Bible was built to withstand 40 days and nights of a rainstorm.
What is Noah’s ark? The ark is referenced in Genesis 6–9
Shortened version of the word for a former student who graduated from a school, college, or university
What is alum? It is also used for students who attended the school but did not graduate. In Latin, nouns are declined, so there are various forms of the word for male and female, singular and plural, but you can’t go wrong with alum and alums.
Laura Ingalls is a young tomboy who grows up on the American frontier in this TV series.
What is Little House on the Prairie? Her nickname is Half-Pint.
On August 6, 1762, this lunchtime favorite was created by an earl.
What is the sandwich? The Earl of Sandwich is credited with ordering some meat between two slices of bread.
This variety TV host’s signature tune is “Everybody Loves Somebody.”
Who is Dean Martin? In 1967, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Male TV Star. Later, he was the host of The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. Don Rickles hosted when it came time for Martin’s own roast.
This Swedish company that sells moderately priced home furnishings is one of the largest global consumers of wood.
What is IKEA? The company uses technology to maximize the yield and minimize waste from its wood, and also has a tree-planting initiative to help replace the wood it uses.
Meaning of “Et tu, Brute?”
What is “And you, Brutus?” This line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar captures the moment in which Caesar realizes his friend Brutus is among his assassins.
She is Charlotte Brontë’s eponymous heroine, whose life is full of trials and tribulations.
Who is Jane Eyre? The book chronicles her life from an orphan to an intelligent, resilient woman.
If you visit Coney Island in August, take a break to eat one of these.
What is a hot dog? Nathan’s Famous is the hot dog flagship stand in Coney Island. It’s also the home of the Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest. In early 2026, Smithfield finalized a deal to acquire the company, but it will continue to operate under the Nathan’s Famous banner.
No one sings “Folsom Prison Blues” like this Tennessee performer who wrote it.
Who is Johnny Cash? Folsom was one of the country’s first maximum-security prisons and among its toughest. Cash saw the film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison while stationed in Germany. He couldn’t forget what he saw and wrote the song about it. Then he performed at Folsom Prison for the prisoners.
Before modern paper was made from wood pulp, it was made from cotton, hemp, and this fabric.
What is linen? Paper wasn’t made from wood until around the mid-19th century. Money is still made from linen and cotton because it wears better (pun intended).
Meaning of quid pro quo
What is “This for that”? The phrase indicates an exchange of something for something, or a reciprocal favor or transaction. You often hear it in political speech, when one party accuses the other of an illicit arrangement.
Victoria Winters was hired as the governess for the Collins family on this 1960s afternoon soap opera.
What is Dark Shadows? This was the era of “dark” TV series. All three were introduced in the mid-1960s and were wildly popular on their first run. The other two series are The Addams Family and The Munsters.
On August 22, AD 565, the first alleged sighting of this monster took place in Scotland.
What is the Loch Ness monster? The monster’s nickname is Nessie. The first alleged photo was snapped in 1933.
A hit from 1962 is “I Left My Heart in” this city.
What is San Francisco? Tony Bennett is the artist, and many have covered this tune.
This light wood is commonly used in rafts and boats
What is balsa? Its lack of density allows it to float. It is often confused with balsam, which is a resin.
Latin for “who benefits,” often used in a political context when something unpopular becomes a law or regulation
What is cui bono? When translated to Italian, it’s reversed—bono cui.
In Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, this revolutionary woman knits a long list of names into a scarf.
Who is Madame (Thérèse) Defarge? She knits the names of those who would be charged or executed during the French Revolution.
This flower is one of August’s two official birth flowers, along with the poppy
What is the gladiola? Gladiolas provide the last rush of summer blooms in a wide array of vivid, eye-popping colors.
This Henry Mancini classic tune had its film premiere in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and was one of two tunes included twice in the film.
What is “Moon River”? Its popularity soared when it became the theme of The Andy Williams Show.