1

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Image: Diana Polekhina

Introduced in 1984 by General Mills, it was designed to be the cereal version of cinnamon toast. It is made from a mix of wheat and rice, and covered in cinnamon sugar. Besides breakfast, Cinnamon Toast Crunch is also popular as a snack on its own, in trail mixes, or as a crunchy topping.

2

Lucky Charms

Image: FlyD

Another General Mills classic, this "magically delicious" cereal features a mix of toasted oat pieces and colorful marshmallows. Besides the original flavor, there are several varieties of Lucky Charms, including Chocolatey Chocolate, S'mores, Berry Swirl, and Minis. A breakfast classic for many decades, one of its most famous features is its mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun.

3

Kellogg’s Raisin Bran

Image: Andreas Haslinger

One of Kellogg’s better-known "healthy" options, Raisin Bran is popular as a source of fiber. It was originally a copy of another cereal of the same name, but after a legal battle, it was determined that "raisin bran" was too descriptive to be a trademark, popularizing the name as a generic term for this type of cereal. What makes it so popular? Its name and marketing have long contributed to the perception of it as a "healthy cereal."

4

Cheerios

Image: Liia

Did you know that the original name of Cheerios was CheerieOats? It was introduced in the 1940s by General Mills, and it is a popular choice due to its whole-grain oat base, low sugar, no cholesterol, and the fact that it is gluten-free. Unlike many other cereals, the original version is not the most popular; it has been surpassed by the Honey Nut flavor.

5

Life

Image: M Alazia

Introduced by Quaker Oats, Life cereal gained popularity through a famous marketing campaign featuring a picky eater named Mikey, one of the longest-running ads in American television history. Life is marketed as a healthy, whole-grain choice without artificial flavors or colors, and has several flavors besides the original.

6

Frosted Flakes

Image: engin akyurt

Did you know that cornflakes were invented by the brother of the founder of Kellogg’s? One of Kellogg’s most well-known cereals worldwide, Frosted Flakes was developed when sweet cereal became increasingly more popular. To boost its appeal to children, the cereal was introduced alongside a mascot, Tony the Tiger, now one of the most recognizable characters in the industry.

7

Cocoa Puffs

Image: Brands&People

One of the first chocolate cereals to exist, Cocoa Puffs is certainly among the most popular. Developed in the 1950s by General Mills, it initially used Hershey’s cocoa. Cocoa Puffs’ popularity is not limited to the American market. It is also a top seller in Canada, Europe, and Latin America, where it is commercialized in partnership with Nestlé under the name Nesquik.

8

Froot Loops

Image: Haley Owens

After Kellogg’s unsuccessfully tried to create a competitor to Cheerios, the company was left with specialized equipment designed to produce O-shaped cereal. Rather than scrap it, Kellogg’s used the machinery to develop a new, colorful cereal, along with a new mascot, Toucan Sam. Although the different colors in Froot Loops are meant to suggest different flavors, Kellogg’s has confirmed that they all taste the same.

9

Honey Bunches of Oats

Image: Benyamin Bohlouli

Originally called Battle Creek, this popular cereal was the result of experimentation. Released by Post in the 1980s, it was developed when one of the company’s employees mixed several existing cereals. After some feedback, honey was added to the mix, and it was renamed Honey Bunches of Oats.

10

Rice Krispies

Image: Emma Miller

Developed in the 1920s, Rice Krispies is not only one of Kellogg’s most iconic products but also one of the most popular cereals in America. Its famous "Snap, Crackle, Pop" slogan was inspired by the sounds the cereal makes when milk is added and was later adopted as the names of its three mascots.

1

Philadelphia: Jawn

Meaning: used as a placeholder for a noun.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Philly, be aware that the word jawn can and will be used in every sentence, no matter if the jawn in question is a thing, person, event, or place. If it’s a noun, it can be jawn’ed.

2

New England: Grinder

Meaning: a sub sandwich.

Subs must be one of the most widely known American sandwiches, and rightfully so. Its possibilities when it comes to fillings are seemingly endless, no matter your personal tastes. But you must consider that not every sub is called a sub. If you are passing through New England and fancy a sandwich, looking for a grinder will get you there quicker.

3

Midwest: Schnockered/ Schnookered

Meaning: Schnockered: wasted/ Schnookered: scammed

Is there a connection between excessive alcohol consumption and being easy to deceive? Midwesterners apparently think so, because they use very similar terms for both situations. We tend to agree; nothing good can come from doing business while under the influence.

4

New York: Schlep

Meaning: a difficult task, to carry something with difficulty.

As far as hectic places go, New York seems to be leading the rankings. No wonder they have a dedicated slang repertoire for difficult situations. If you are planning on visiting the Big Apple, take it easy; you will most likely encounter a schlep.

5

Florida: No-see-ums

Meaning: tiny biting midges.

Ah, Florida! The land of cruises, alligators, and invisible attacking bugs. These welcoming critters are known for attacking at dawn and leaving itchy marks that will sting for days. They go by the government name of Ceratopogonidae, but the no-see-ums nickname seems more accurate.

6

Boston: Regular

Meaning: coffee with cream and sugar.

Forget about americanos, lattes, and espressos, a regular is the Boston way to go. Associated with a popular Dunkin’ order, it will come already creamed and sugared. Not advisable for diabetics and lactose intolerants.

7

Puerto Rico: A mi, plín!

Meaning: I don’t care.

Puerto Rican slang can be hard to decipher even if you speak some Spanish, but this makes it even more unique. This phrase —literally translated as ‘to me, plin’— is commonly used to express that something or someone is of no concern to you. What is a ‘plin’? We don’t really know, but to us, plin!

8

Pacific Northwest: The mountain is out

Meaning: there is good weather

Mount Rainier is one of the icons of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, even though the stormy weather can often make it difficult to admire. On the days when the sky is clear and cloudless, this natural wonder "is out" and can be seen in its entirety. For the locals, the mountain being out has become synonymous with lovely weather and sunny skies.

9

Texas: Fixin’ to

Meaning: about to.

We are including this phrase as Texan slang, but you might hear it from Southerners of other states. What do they use it for? Not to talk about repairs, but to say they are about to do something or getting ready for something. Important: do not confuse it with ‘fixins’, a way to refer to side dishes or condiments.

10

Alaska: Sourdough

Meaning: a long-time resident.

Alaska is filled with natural wonders, but it has always been a tough place to live in, especially during the time of the pioneers. These brave people relied on a few food sources, one of them being sourdough starter to make bread and biscuits. In time, seasoned Alaskans came to be referred to as ‘sourdough’, as a way of honoring their resilience and love for the territory. Opposite to a ‘sourdough’, you can find a ‘cheechako’ or newcomer.

11

Utah: RM

Meaning: someone who returned from their missionary service.

Utah is known for many things, one of them being its high number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members (commonly known as Mormons). Many members of the Church choose to serve as missionaries, an activity that can take them to a different state or even a different country for up to two years. Once they come back, they might be referred to as RM, or ‘returned missionary’.

12

Hawaii: Da kine

Meaning: placeholder for something.

If you are in Hawaii, you might notice locals using this phrase to refer to various things, similar to how other English speakers use ‘whatsit’ as a placeholder. A common phrase in Hawaiian Pidgin, ‘da kine’ can be used for objects, people, places, ideas, and much more.

1

Banana duct‑taped to a wall

The world was shocked in 2024 when an infamous piece consisting of a banana stuck to a wall via a piece of tape was sold… for $6.24 million !

The buyer was Justin Sun, a crypto mogul who saw it as a powerful statement of art and cryptocurrency culture. It was the certificate of authenticity he cared for, not the fruit itself.

2

Britney Spears’ chewing gum

Pop stars do drive their fans crazy. Apparently, people are willing to pay any sum for anything they allegedly touched. That was made sufficiently clear when a piece of chewing gum, reportedly chewed by Britney Spears , sold on eBay for $14,000.

3

A Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich

You might remember this story spreading through the internet many years ago. In 2004, a grilled cheese sandwich became famous because someone noticed, halfway through eating it, that it bore the burnt image of the Virgin Mary .

GoldenPalace.com, an online casino notorious for quirky purchases, bought it on eBay for $28,000.

4

Princess Diana’s sweatshirt

How much would you pay for a fleece sweatshirt worn by beloved Princess Diana ? In an auction held in Beverly Hills in 2025, a buyer paid $221,000 for it. The sale of several of her old belongings totaled around $5 million.

5

A ghost town

A ghost town named Buford, Wyoming, was sold for $900,000 in 2012. Its population was one person, and it was nicknamed "the smallest town in America."

The winning bidder was Vietnamese entrepreneur Pham Dinh Nguyen, who purchased the 10-acre hamlet to launch PhinDeli Coffee. It might have all been a very expensive marketing stunt.

6

Wallace Hartley’s Titanic violin

A relic from the Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage fetched a remarkable $1.7 million in 2013. It was the violin that belonged to bandleader Wallace Hartley , who famously played music to calm passengers as the ship sank.

This one is not an odd object, but it shows how much value a well-told story can add!

7

Darth Vader’s mask

Darth Vader’s original screen-worn helmet sold for around $1 million. The iconic mask came up for auction along with several other Star Wars treasures, each piece triggering nostalgic gasps among wealthy fans. Of all the memorabilia sold, this one fetched the highest price .

8

Olivia Newton-John’s jacket and pants from Grease

In a Beverly Hills auction, Olivia Newton-John’s iconic black jacket and pants from the legendary film Grease sold for a cool $405,700. The dark uniform represented the rebellious transformation of her character, Sandy Olsson. Pop culture and movie magic combined!

9

The "Del Monte Note"

Back in 2003, a curious item known as the "Del Monte note" sold on eBay for $10,100. It was a piece of currency featuring a rare, collectible Del Monte label, famous for its canned fruits and vegetables.

What made it stand out was the mystery surrounding the random tag, which intrigued collectors. Another example of an inflated myth summoning a fortune!

10

Lincoln’s last gloves

Dark and gory. In 2025, a pair of white leather gloves worn by Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre, sold for $1.52 million at a Chicago auction.

The gloves were the top lot among 144 items aimed at helping the Lincoln Presidential Foundation repay an $8 million loan.