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It's important to use the right words when you want to get your point across. Often, they're the only means of communication available to us.

But expressing nuanced thoughts and feelings through language can be difficult. So let's try to learn from the best!

There's a subreddit called r/OddlySpecific and as the name suggests, its 1.2 million members are dedicated to collecting distinct, precise phrases that strangely make perfect sense.

So continue scrolling to check the best ones they spotted and fire up our first publication on this awesome online community for more.

#1

Adult Books vs. Kids' Books

Adult Books vs. Kids' Books

sketchesbyboze Report

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Madison Feehan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kids books for the win!!!! Can I get some YA novel recommendations with decent plots and non-depressing endings???

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If you want your speeches to have a stronger impact, American author, columnist, keynote speaker, and former journalist and news anchor Carmine Gallo suggests replacing long words with short ones. "In his groundbreaking book Thinking, Fast and Slow, Nobel economist Daniel Kahneman writes, 'If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do.' Effective leaders speak in simple language — and simple means short," Gallo explained.

He said this is especially true during a crisis, when attention spans are flagging and noise levels are high. "People are being bombarded by information, some of which is misleading or false. The clearer and more concise you are, the better your chances of getting your message across and persuading people to act on it."

#3

Billionaires Are Boring

Billionaires Are Boring

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Tesla Sulu
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! I knew a very wealthy family with a 14,000 sq ft home and no roller skates to take advantage of it!

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#5

Quite A Lesson Indeed

Quite A Lesson Indeed

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Parallax Arts
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually did this. Clicked it, popped up glowing, waited til it went grey, wondered if it was still hot...like a dumbass i touched it...sucked my finger in agony for ten minutes until parents returned, asked me why I was so quiet? What's the matter?...Nuffin!

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Kristof De Smet
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Push it in, when it pops out, hold the glowing part to your fingertip. You'll still not know what it's for, but it will hurt like hell.

lizard67 avatar
lizard67
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After 45 years, I'm still hearing about what I did in my mums Leyland after she went to supermarket and left me unsupervised...

seymourcharli953 avatar
charli
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what did you do? if you feel like sharing. it must have been crazy if they're still talking about after 45 years...

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Honu
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They haven't been standard in cars here in the US for ages. My last two cars had the socket, which I used to plug a charger into, but if you wanted the lighter and an ashtray, that was an extra option.

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niki.bordeaux
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is probably the fist time I'm thankful my parents smoked in the car, so I didn't need to find out myself what this device was supposed to do.

lpete166 avatar
Avocado Toast
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hi. Young person who is too afraid to try anything new here. What is this?

alihmsalehuddin avatar
Ali H M Salehuddin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many comments above already explain what it is. So I won't repeat. But I'd suggest you watch the movie Mr Bean's holiday to see this in action. Specifically the scene where he purposely touch it in order to stay awake while driving long distance.

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Brenda Spagnola-Wilson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cigarette lighter. No longer standard, you have to pay a lot for one. Most companies put USB ports where they used to be

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DumYum
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not necessarily alone. I tried it on the palm of my hand and screamed and then my little brother tried it too. 😆

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SPQRBob
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Another Fool on the Hill
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had already my driver's license for some years, when I touched it on purpose... 🙄🤦

ela_2 avatar
Ela
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone else remember having that perfect swirl fingerprint for a couple weeks? After that, the first thing Mom did with any new car was throw away the lighter!

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The Mom
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Knowing what it is my 5 year old brother stuck his thumb in it. We heard whimpering and saw him curled up in the back floorboard. Changed his thumb print forever. Also, this was in the early '80s.

tomdepaul avatar
Tom De Paul
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You do get a perfectly red spiral on the end of your finger, though.

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Well then
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Burn your finger on this. I saw through time. Spent the rest of the day with my finger in ice water.

capndad1 avatar
R.A. Haley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's one of the things we should thank millennials for ruining, like paper napkins and ironing.

capndad1 avatar
R.A. Haley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's one of those things we should thank millenials for ruining... like paper napkins, or ironing.

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Riley Quinn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my experience, a teachable moment for a drunken teenager.

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Logan Chipman
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember when my mom tried to teach me not to play with that when I already knew what it did and how it worked. I saw the cigarette symbol on it and when I pushed it In and took it out I saw it was red hot and I immediately insinuated that it must be hot af so I didn't touch it lol.

rivalhydra avatar
Rival Hydra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I burnt my self so many times.(for those who don’t know, it’s a cigarette lighter)

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JPotts
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They make cool looking burn marks on the dashboard too.

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"As you think about how to share your next message, remember that language influenced by the Anglo-Saxon period has been used by many great leaders," Gallo highlighted.

Winston Churchill once said, "The shorter words of a language are usually the more ancient. Their meaning is more ingrained in the national character and they appeal to greater force."

In a memo titled Brevity, Churchill urged government administrators to replace long "woolly phrases" with single conversational words, pointing out that brevity equals clarity and that directness makes things easier to understand.

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Next, Gallo thinks you should search for analogies. "Neuroscientists have found that our brains process the world by associating the new or unknown with something familiar. When presented with a novel idea, our brains don't ask, 'What is it?' They ask, 'What is it like?'"

"Analogies answer that question. They serve as mental shortcuts that help us understand complex events. Leaders who are great communicators in a crisis are skilled at finding analogies, because they have to persuade people to act quickly."

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#10

This Reply

This Reply

Sleepy_weeb_AOT Report

#12

Even Average Sounds Extraordinary During Victorian Times

Even Average Sounds Extraordinary During Victorian Times

ambernoelle Report

The human brain is wired for storytelling. In his best-selling book Sapiens, historian Yuval Noah Harari argues that it was only through stories that our species was able to take over the world.

Our advanced language skills — specifically, our ability to connect with one another through narrative — allowed us to cooperate in ways other species simply could not.

#16

Uuh... Fox Title?

Uuh... Fox Title?

Yarklik Report

#17

Humble Living As A Gnome

Humble Living As A Gnome

sketchesbyboze Report

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Spannidandoolar
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't know that this was what I wanted from life until I read it here.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health, is widely admired for his straight, persuasive talk. CNN has even called him “a public force” who translates complex medical information into everyday language.

"You don’t want to impress people and razzle-dazzle them with your knowledge," Fauci said. "You just want them to understand what you’re talking about."

#18

The Jeans Discount Is The Cherry On Top

The Jeans Discount Is The Cherry On Top

FruityNesa Report

#19

This Will Be A Reality One Day

This Will Be A Reality One Day

AliKolbert Report

#20

An Interesting Title

An Interesting Title

ceejoyner Report

#21

When You Get Flashbacks Of Working Retail

When You Get Flashbacks Of Working Retail

AOC Report

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Nitka Tsar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Meanwhile in other countries someone gets praised as a „normal“ or a „peoples person“ for not being born into money/ power.

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Because of that, Fauci often limits himself to just three key points. For instance, in an April 5 appearance on Face the Nation, he said the country would be able to relax social-distancing guidelines only when three things were in place: "the ability to test, isolate, and do contact tracing."

Fauci also pointed out that Americans must continue to “physically separate” from one another by doing three things: staying six feet apart, limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer people, and avoiding mass interactions, such as in restaurants, bars, and theaters.

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Words are powerful, and the more mindful you are with them, the more they can offer you.

#22

Not A Squirrel!

Not A Squirrel!

North_Inflation1710 Report

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ohjojo (you/your's)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Keith should try bringing $5 with him to buy lunch instead of bringing his lunch. That is sure to keep the squirrels away

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#23

Rbdbdjddn

Rbdbdjddn

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Ember
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an avid book reader, this happens to me more times than I can count….lol

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#26

Smoke

Smoke

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tHeBoRdEsTpAnDa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My pointed this out to my dad and he said my grandad (RIP) pointed that out to his (Christian) teacher and got detention for saying that lol

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#27

20-20-20 Noted

20-20-20 Noted

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Madison Feehan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳

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#29

Sheeranphobia, An Interesting Disease

Sheeranphobia, An Interesting Disease

JonCutress Report

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Jul Chv
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ma'm, I have a terrible news. It's only a scratch, They'll be fine but.... They are a secret Sheerfan.

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#30

Oh Cool

Oh Cool

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DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just last month I saw a bird in the garden and thought...you know, I should get one of those books that bird watchers use.

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#31

Whale Sounds

Whale Sounds

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#32

Found On Meirl

Found On Meirl

acarboni Report

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Pernille.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel this, I had to fix my dishwasher last week, and now I'm missing important cat videos because I only get dishwasher videos.

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#33

Eminems More Positive Cousin

Eminems More Positive Cousin

Gogetbusy Report

#35

I Have Never Made A Doctor's Appointment By Myself

I Have Never Made A Doctor's Appointment By Myself

tey_an Report

#36

Weird Way To Describe It But I Get The Idea

Weird Way To Describe It But I Get The Idea

NangSor Report

#39

The Fact That This Is Not An Exaggeration Makes It Even Better. British Football Chants Are Fun

The Fact That This Is Not An Exaggeration Makes It Even Better. British Football Chants Are Fun

daveloach2 Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same in Greece. And it varies from remarks for opponents' moms to seggsual insults to the team

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#42

Ok, Josh

Ok, Josh

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Laura Jackson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As teens my friends and I would steal a few carved pumpkins off porches late Halloween night each year. We would write the address of the house they came from and put it in a Ziploc bag inside the pumpkins then put the pumpkins in a deep freezer. On the night before Thanksgiving we would then take them back to their porches and leave them. We would hear kids talking about it at school wondering about it. Good times!

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#43

Connor

Connor

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Hannah Hudson-Lee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is an insult to Honda Accords. At least a Honda Accord will usually get you there.

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#44

No Time To Bleed!

No Time To Bleed!

TheGreek420 Report

#46

Interesting Quiz Options

Interesting Quiz Options

philsadelphia Report

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girlsrock4ever
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly! And you know which answer is for which, it's so obvious. Plus, only a small minority of people actually act like a stereotypical introvert/extrovert.

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#48

I Also Feel This Way A Bit

I Also Feel This Way A Bit

laureenbazzi Report

#49

I Dont *look* Like A R*pist Or Serial Killer

I Dont *look* Like A R*pist Or Serial Killer

peoplecallmeromy Report

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Olivier Caissy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live at night, I unfortunately cannot tell you the number of women I’ve seen looking scared to even be out or on public transports. I feel sorry and angry at the world at the same time.

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#50

Don’t Steel My Food?

Don’t Steel My Food?

usefulclam Report

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