A portmanteau is a new word formed by blending the sounds and meanings of two distinct words. Examples include brunch (breakfast + lunch), smog (smoke + fog), and jorts (jeans + shorts).

You’ll know your olive oil is rancid if it smells like a box of Crayola crayons, according to NY Times writer Michael Sullivan.

On a recent podcast hosted by Joe Marler, Prince Harry insisted he is not a ginger, but his hair is more like a sunset auburn. 

NBA referee Angelica Suffren, a basketball official of more than 25 years, also is a competitive ballroom dancer.

According to researchers at Oxford University, kissing seems to have first happened in an ancestor to many of today’s large apes that lived at least 21.5 million years ago.

The above is information that Mr. Smarty Pants read in a book, magazine, or newspaper; heard on the radio; saw on television; or overheard at a party. Got facts? Write to Mr. Smarty Pants. Why not visit mrsmartypants.com?

This article appears in July 31 • 2026.

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