Everyday Objects You Don't Know the Name Of?

Post Reply New Topic

I'd like to ask for some help here, since I think of all the places I haunt this is the place that will get the most respose and the least flaming for my asking this, though it's not directly AS related. I'm actually asking this for a paper I'm writing. anyway:

Are there any objects you use every day that you don't know the actual word for? Obviously you can't tell me the word but if you can describe it it would help. Alternate, if there's something you didn't know the word for for a long time that would be helpful too. I'm looking for things that are pretty much recognizable on sight, but you can't think of the name for. I can't think of anything for some reason, except maybe certain vaccuum cleaner attachments, and that just sucks- so to speak.

I don't really have this problem in the long term. But I am always forgetting names of objects common things really. Also when I am doing something technical I like to have the proper names for things, but I am embarrased when the names are supposed to be common and everyone knows... so I will not ask what they are called... and try to pick up on the proper lingo.

Example, I was fixing a belt on my Car... something that took me forever to figure out by the way... but anyways the belt went around all the Circular Driving devices... they look like Pulleys... but I wasn't sure if that was the "proper" name for them... so when I talked with people about this I was vare cautious to not call them Pulleys... but a more long-winded-descriptive term. Someone informed me that they are indeed called pulleys, so that is a relief.

This sort of issue is compounded when I am assisting someone in repairing anything...

I think I've figured a good example- stacitices and stalagmites. I'll put up pictures of those; I can never remember which is which but I know exactly what they are/where they're found etc.

I learned wrestling without learning the name of a single move other than the half nelson.

I always mix up sweater and sweatshirt for some reason. I also can't identify most species of tree or flower, even the most common ones. I've heard of plant names like oak, maple, birch, pansey, daisy, patunia, and ash; but chances are pretty good I wouldn't be able to put the name to the plant. I think I can get oak and maple at least, but I might misidentify some other species of tree with them too. I also know pine, of course.

This is one reason why my systemizing quotient is lower than it could be; that test uses specific examples, and plants are one of them.

I always thought that sweater and sweatshirt were the same thing.

If I don't use a word for a long time, I forget it. I re-learned the word "scone" today. My cousin was suprised I forgot what it was until I saw it. I'll forget again in a month anyways. There's a few other words too. I call dress shoes "fancy shoes". Oh, "cumberbun" took me a while to remember. Also "cufflinks".

Oops, just re-read the original topic. I think I was starting to wander off-topic. I don't know the word for those things that have shelves. You put stuff in them. A bureau, or something like that. They're shelf-thingys da*nit, not bureaus or whatever! Argh! There's other things I can't think of right now too.

Oh yeah... plant and animal names. Most I can't remember. Especially Dog breeds, I am terrible. I know what certain dogs look like, but I can not put a name on nearly all of them. Same thing with Trees, I have a few images of trees and leaves in my brain. But to put a name to them is nearly impossible. And if someone is talking about a certain tree, I can't put a picture in my head.

The thing you put holes in paper with.

The little plastic things on the end of your shoelaces...is there a name for those??

the plastic thingies that attatch store tags to clothes you buy.

the things on the back of picture frames that hold the cardboard in place


the lever on the side of a recliner chair that makes the chair recline

stlf: Awesome, i think I may use those instead, I'm not sure. I know exactly what you mean, but no clue what the word for those things are!! !

I can help with two more of those. The plastic tube on the end of a shoelace is called an aglet. The lever on the side of a recliner has no name, it is simply called a recliner lever.

I remember things by associating them with others.

Staligtites hang from the roof, they have to hold on tight not to fall down.

Staligmites have to use all their might to grow upwards from the ground.

Can you put the donut joke in your comics? It'd be a a big crack up.