The Unusual Origins of Popular Acronyms
Sometimes things can turn out quite different from when they started, right? Well, when it comes to well-known acronyms, they are no exception.
P.S.A. — Few know that this little dandy originally stood for the Porcupine Survivors Association. Yes, poor souls who came into contact with the little creature’s quills, and lived to tell about it, would meet monthly to discuss their harrowing encounters and ways to prevent such an ordeal from happening again. Occasionally, those afraid of getting flu shots or giving blood donations were allowed to attend these meetings in hopes of surmounting their pointed fears.
D.I.Y. — This one started as an unorthodox brotherhood of sorts. Called the Daring and Intrepid Yodelers, this fraternal society found unique, and often dangerous, ways of displaying their vocal prowess. Known places of serenading included literal cliff edges, snake pits, Colorado River category 4 and above rapids, stygian volcanic caves, and — a societal favorite — grizzly-infested dens of Kodiak Island. Puts a bit of a damper on those self-completed household projects.
F.A.Q. — Now a helpful acronym for questioning customers on consumer websites, F.A.Q. used to refer to those Frequently Annoying Quadrupeds carousing homes in old log cabin days. Prior to industrial construction-material advancements, including drywall, sheetrock, and weathered-paneling, little critters used to find ways of invading abodes on the regular. So oft was the attendance of opossums, coons, mice, rats, and other furry whippersnappers within the home that many a log-cabinite refrained, “Get the F.A.Q. out of here!”
W.T.F. — Many don’t know the simplistic provenance of this bemused reply. The pioneers of wood tile flooring actually used the acronym for their business name, Wood Tile Flooring. They prided themselves on masking wood in a way where it looked, incredibly, just like tile. Their business has lasted for over a hundred years and thrives to this day, though due to customer opinion they opted to change their DBA.
S.A.T. — Around the time the idea of the Scholastic Aptitude Test was being thrown around by academics in ivory towers, freshman college students took pity on their future collegiate colleagues and started a campus-based club that soon expanded to off-campus environs, including suburban households and televised cooking shows. Before the SAT was a test, it stood for Saturdays Are for Tiramisu. That’s right, college freshmen and apron-wearing homeowners alike enlivened their weekends with the practice and art of creating the Italian coffee-flavored dessert. Sadly, these days high school seniors taking the SAT think little of baking and sweets. But they can still partake in the original baking tradition on any other Saturday when they can close the textbook and flip open a cookbook.
