Grain boundaries are lines on the surface of crystalline solids formed when a material cools from a liquid to a solid. Metallurgists can modify the behavior of metals by changing the size and shape of grains and their boundaries through heating, cooling, and compressing. Grain boundaries are vulnerable to corrosive attack and forced growth of […]
Medium grain rice is wider than long grain, with several types including California, southern, Arborio, and Mochi. California is mild and sticky, southern has more flavor and is yellowish, Arborio is creamy, and Mochi is sweet and sticky. When people talk about the grain of rice, they are generally referring to the length of a […]
“Going against the grain” means going against social norms or something unpleasant. It can be used negatively to describe someone else or positively for oneself. Other idioms with similar meanings include “going against the tide” and “swimming against the tide.” The phrase comes from planing wood against the grain, which leads to a less desirable […]
The saying “take it with a grain of salt” means to be skeptical when assessing a situation. The phrase has ancient roots, with Pliny the Elder suggesting it in the first century AD. It’s a reminder to not take things at face value and to dig deeper for more information. Being skeptical can keep people […]
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