It started out as a short quiz and has grown to 30 terms. Because some of the terms are so commonly used, we either have forgotten their origins or debate their etymology. Two currently contentious terms include "rule of thumb" and "paddy wagon"; a Google search reveals just how controversial such terms can be.

The game asks students to guess at the origins of everyday language that has surprising roots. My students play this game in class, and we have fun making up definitions. I get requests for copies of Origins from graduates of our program, who often use it for staff in-services when they are employed in nonprofits or schools. With necessary modifications to explicit terminology, the game could also work in a high school classroom.

Begin by randomly selecting three judges and supplying them with the instructions to: break the rest of the students into groups of five or six; distribute questions for round one; give each group four minutes to write the common usage and origin for the words on the sheet (they must contrive an answer even if they have no idea of the meaning or origin or the word or phrase); and have each group report their answers. The handout looks like this:

Gypped

Common usage:

Origin:

Judges award two possible points for the common usage and three possible points for the origin of the word or phrase. At the end of each round, the judges read the actual definitions and origins of the terms from the key. Students are usually surprised that "gypped" is from the word gypsy, reflecting the belief that Gypsies (people from East India and the Balkan states) will cheat you or steal from you. Here is another example from the key:

Hag

Common usage:

Origin:

Sudie Hofmann

St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud, Minn.