Proprietary Eponyms
This facial tissue brand became so synonymous with tissues that many people use the brand name for any tissue.
Kleenex
This antibiotic was discovered when Alexander Fleming noticed mold accidentally killing bacteria in a petri dish.
Penicillin
Michael Scott worked for this paper company on The Office.
Dunder Mifflin
This astronaut spoke the words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Neil Armstrong
Players take turns tossing bean bags onto a raised board with a hole in it in this popular backyard game.
Cornhole (Bags in the midwest)
This flying disc's brand name became the generic term for nearly any plastic disc thrown in a park.
Frisbee
While trying to create a stronger adhesive, scientists at 3M accidentally invented the weak glue used in these office supplies.
Post-it Notes
This fast-food chicken chain serves as a front for Gus Fring's drug operation in Breaking Bad.
Los Pollos Hermanos?
This U.S. president declared, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Players use mallets to hit colored balls through a series of wickets in this traditional lawn game.
Croquet
Originally a brand of insulated vacuum flask, this name is often used for any container that keeps drinks hot or cold.
Thermos
Percy Spencer was testing radar equipment when a candy bar melted in his pocket, leading to the invention of this kitchen appliance.
Microwave
Road Runner's nemesis Wile E. Coyote frequently purchases gadgets from this company.
Acme Corporation
This U.S. president challenged the Soviet Union with the phrase, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Ronald Reagan
In this backyard game, players toss pairs of balls connected by a string onto a three-rung target, with the top rung worth the most points.
Ladder Toss (or Ladder Golf)
This brand of transparent adhesive bandages has become the generic name for small wound coverings in many households.
Band-Aid
Wilhelm Röntgen discovered these invisible rays after noticing a fluorescent screen glowing unexpectedly during experiments with electricity.
X-rays
This pharmaceutical giant secretly develops the T-virus throughout the Resident Evil franchise.
Umbrella Corporation
This British wartime leader promised his nation "blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
Winston Churchill
This game combines elements of volleyball and four square, with players hitting a small ball off a circular net.
Spikeball
This company trademarked a name for its absorbent lip balm, but many people use it to describe nearly any product of its kind.
ChapStick
First discovered by accident while researching refrigeration chemicals, this material would later become synonymous with nonstick cookware.
Teflon
In Severance, this corporation's employees undergo a procedure that prevents them from remembering anything about their lives outside of work.
Lumon Industries
The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" comes from this Roman statesman, who reportedly said "The die is cast" before taking an irreversible step toward power.
Julius Caesar
This lawn game from Scandinavia challenges players to knock over wooden blocks before toppling the "king."
Kubb