Ellen Gutoskey

New York

Senior Staff Writer at Mental Floss

Senior staff writer for @mental_floss. She/her

Articles

Definition Detective Quiz #42

1 week ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

In Definition Detective, we give you an obscure word with four possible definitions. Only one is correct—the other three we made up. Can you identify the real meaning from the fakes? Try Other Definition Detective Quizzes:
Why Are Fruity Drinks Called “Ades”?

1 week ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

The short answer? Lemonade. The long answer? Latin participles. Lemonade, limeade, Gatorade—even Kool-Aid, despite its spelling. Thanks to these and other beverages, we recognize -ade as shorthand for “fruit-flavored drink.” But the suffix itself has nothing to do with fruit or drinks. What’s in an Ade? How Gatorade, Lucozade, and Kool-Aid Got Their NamesWhat’s in an Ade? Sources generally credit lemonade as the beverage behind the trend.
Definition Detective Quiz #41

2 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

In Definition Detective, we give you an obscure word with four possible definitions. Only one is correct—the other three we made up. Can you identify the real meaning from the fakes? Try Other Definition Detective Quizzes:
Can You Spot the Dog That Stole the Sausage in This Brainteaser?

3 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

Even well-behaved dogs have been known to swipe meat from an unattended table, and backyard barbecues offer ample opportunities to do so. While almost all the pets in the picture below are entertaining themselves with balls, bones, or just the pleasure of each other’s company, one crafty canine is clutching a string of sausages stolen before they landed on the grill.
There Are 21 Classic Romance Movies Depicted in This Image-Can You Name Them All In Less Than 5 Minutes?

3 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

A quick glance at a calendar will tell you that this Friday is the first day of May, when April showers supposedly disappear and flowers begin to bloom in full. What your calendar probably doesn’t tell you, however, is that Friday is also Global Love Day, an annual tradition launched in 2004 by the Love Foundation, a nonprofit organization that spreads messages of unconditional love through its programs.
Can You Find the Hidden Helmet Among the Motorcycles?

3 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

If you own a motorcycle, you’ve hopefully also invested in a reliable helmet to wear on every ride, whether you’re jetting down the street or embarking on a coast-to-coast road trip. To help promote motorcycle safety, UK-based motorcycle insurance provider Carole Nash created a puzzle with just one helmet hidden among a sea of motorbikes, gas cans, wrenches, and other things you’d find in a well-stocked garage.
Spot the Daisy at the Picnic in This Hidden Object Puzzle

3 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

Summer is the ideal time to pack up your picnic basket and head to the nearest park for an afternoon of snacking and sunshine. The image below features all the essentials—sandwiches, fruit, cheese, bread, silverware, and tea—spread out across a classic red and white checkered blanket. It also features one tiny daisy hiding among the other items. How long will it take you to spot it? Once you’ve timed yourself, scroll on to reveal the answer key and find out if you beat the record time.
Can You Spot the Engagement Ring Among the Watches?

3 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

Love and marriage are certainly in the air—2022 has been a huge year for the wedding industry, and the surge isn't expected to die down any time soon. For those looking to get in on the wedding and engagement fun, check out this hidden object brainteaser. Jewelry retailer F.Hinds designed a puzzle that contains a single engagement ring hidden among a sea of clocks and watches. Try your hand at finding the ring in the image above, or scroll down to reveal it.
Can You Spot the Chick and Carrot Hiding in These Easter Egg Hunts?

3 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

In a typical Easter egg hunt, you’re looking for eggs. But these two illustrations from Replay Poker are too chock-full of eggs to require any hunting. Instead, each image harbors a different hidden object: There’s a chick in the first one, and a carrot in the second. Once you’ve spotted both (or given up), keep scrolling to see the answers. Spot the ChickSpot the CarrotThe eggs above have all been duly dyed and decorated in true Easter fashion.
Can You Spot the Patch of Floor Hidden Among All the Moving Boxes?

3 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Ellen Gutoskey

Even if you take pride in keeping your living space being spotless, it’s difficult to maintain that standard when you’re preparing to move. In the image below, boxes, furniture, pets, and other belongings clutter the room so thoroughly that you can’t even see the parquet floor—except for one small piece. According to Luxury Flooring & Furnishings, the company that created the puzzle, only 5 percent of participants were able to spot that piece in under a minute. Can you?