› added 11 years ago

85

TIL that the phrase “Die Hard” was coined in 1811 by an English officer during a battle in the Napoleonic Wars. He was wounded, but refused to leave the field, telling his outnumbered regiment to “die hard” against the French troops.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

40Oa TIL that during the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris to end the American Revolutionary War, the French delegate told the English diplomat that the USA “would form the greatest empire in the world.” The English diplomat shot back, “Yes sir, and they will all speak English; every one of ‘em.”
e0Byk TIL that in the "Cookie Monster" study, experimenters randomly appointed one person the leader of a small group. When an experimenter brought in a plate of 5 cookies, the "leaders" were more likely to take a second cookie, and to eat with their mouths open and get crumbs all over the place.
49YR TIL the term “limelight” originated because when heated to 2,400 °C, calcium oxide (quicklime) emits a strong glow. Before electricity this was how theaters lit the stage.
j69ZN TIL of Stendhal Syndrome - a psychosomatic condition involving rapid heartbeat, fainting, confusion, and even hallucinations, allegedly occurring when individuals become exposed to objects, artworks, or phenomena of great beauty.
0d1XA TIL Frank Richards, a circus performer, endured severe blows to his stomach, letting a boxing champion hit him 75 times and even withstood being shot by a 47kg cannonball. The cannon was loaded with a spring and fired at close range, but Frank resisted these feats twice daily.