The idiom “egg someone on” means to encourage someone to do something risky or foolish. The phrase originates from the Old Norse word “eggia,” meaning “to incite or goad.” It evolved into its current form “egg someone on” in the mid-1500s.
2013 - In Arizona, aerialist Nik Wallenda completed a quarter mile tightrope walk over the Little Colorado River Gorge.
Fact of the Day
The nose of Japan’s bullet train was redesigned after a kingfisher’s beak to stop tunnel sonic booms.
Nature Oddities
Of the thousands of frog species, the Baja California tree frog is the only one that actually makes the sound “ribbit!” Because Hollywood used the sound in its movies, it has become widely accepted as the sound all frogs make, though that’s not really true.
Food and Drink
The British government safeguarded the supply of fish and chips during World War I and again during World War II, making it one of the few foods in the UK not subject to rationing.