EveryManKnows
105 terms

Life skills glossary

The words the skill guides use, each in one plain line, with links to the skills where it comes up. The list of skills beside each term is found in the guides themselves, so it always matches what the pages say. Search on the skills checklist finds these words too.

Terms A to Z

3

3-2-1 rule
A backup habit: three copies of important files, on two kinds of storage, with one copy kept away from home. Used in: back up your computer.

A

Activation lock
A phone or laptop setting tied to your account that stops anyone else using the device until you sign out. Used in: wipe a phone or laptop before selling it.
AED
Automated external defibrillator: a portable device that talks you through shocking a heart back into rhythm. Used in: do hands-only CPR, use an AED, Signs of a heart attack.
Application fee
What a landlord charges to process a rental application, usually for credit and background checks. Used in: apply for an apartment.
Authenticator app
A phone app that shows a new six-digit code every few seconds for signing in with two-step login. Used in: turn on two-step login.
Avalanche method
Paying off debts by putting every spare dollar on the highest interest rate first. Used in: pay off debt: avalanche vs snowball.

B

Backup
A second copy of your files or phone data kept somewhere else, so a loss or failure is not permanent. Used in: pack a go-bag, start using a password manager, back up your phone, back up your computer, fix slow home internet, wipe a phone or laptop before selling it.
Baseplate compass
A compass on a clear base with a turning dial and a direction arrow, used to follow a line from a map. Used in: use a map and compass.
Binding estimate
A mover's written quote that caps the price, so the final bill cannot exceed it for the listed job. Used in: hire movers without getting scammed.
Black tie
The most formal common dress code: a tuxedo or dark dinner suit with a bow tie. Used in: What black tie, cocktail and business casual mean.
Bowline
A knot that makes a fixed loop at the end of a rope that will not slip or jam. Used in: Knots every man should know.
Brace
Tightening your stomach and trunk as if about to be poked, so the spine stays still under load. Used in: deadlift and squat with good form, hold a plank correctly, do an overhead press safely, do a farmer's carry.
Breaker
A switch in the electrical panel that cuts power to a circuit when it is overloaded. Used in: reset a tripped breaker or GFCI outlet, What to do if you smell gas, clean a dryer vent, keep pipes from freezing, get your home ready for a storm, What to check when touring an apartment and 1 more.
Business casual
A dress code of collared shirts or smart knitwear and trousers, without a suit or tie. Used in: What black tie, cocktail and business casual mean.

C

Cartridge
The replaceable valve inside many single-handle faucets that controls flow and temperature. Used in: fix a dripping faucet.
Cat hole
A small hole dug well away from water and trails to bury human waste outdoors. Used in: Leave no trace principles.
Caulk
A flexible sealant squeezed into joints around tubs, sinks and windows to keep water out. Used in: recaulk a tub or shower.
Check engine light
An amber dashboard light that means the engine computer has stored a fault code. Used in: What dashboard warning lights mean, read a check engine code with an OBD2 scanner.
Clove hitch
A quick knot for tying a rope around a post or rail, easy to adjust. Used in: Knots every man should know.
Clutch (drill)
The numbered collar on a drill that slips at a set force so screws are not overdriven. Used in: use a drill and pick the right bit.
Co-signer
A person who signs a lease or loan with you and agrees to pay if you cannot. Used in: apply for an apartment.
Coinsurance
The share of a covered medical bill you pay after the deductible, such as twenty percent. Used in: Deductible, premium, copay explained.
Compressions
Pushing hard and fast on the center of the chest during CPR to move blood. Used in: do hands-only CPR, use an AED.
Coolant
The fluid that carries heat away from a car engine; never open its cap when the engine is hot. Used in: What dashboard warning lights mean, check engine oil, check coolant, washer and brake fluid, inspect a used car before buying, get your car ready for winter.
Copay
A flat amount you pay for a covered visit or prescription, set by your health plan. Used in: Deductible, premium, copay explained.
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: chest compressions, and sometimes breaths, for someone whose heart has stopped. Used in: do hands-only CPR, What to do if someone is choking, stop heavy bleeding, treat a minor burn, use an AED, Signs of a stroke (FAST) and 10 more.
Credit freeze
A lock on your credit report that stops lenders opening new accounts in your name until you lift it. Used in: What affects your credit score, spot phone, text and invoice scams, spot a rental listing scam, What to do if your identity is stolen.
Credit report
The record of your loans, cards and payment history that lenders check. Used in: What affects your credit score, apply for an apartment, What to do if your identity is stolen.
Credit score
A number from your credit report that lenders and landlords use to judge risk. Used in: What affects your credit score.

D

Declination
The angle between true north on a map and magnetic north on a compass where you are. Used in: use a map and compass.
Deductible
What you pay yourself on a claim or medical bill before insurance starts to pay. Used in: Deductible, premium, copay explained, pick work benefits at open enrollment, How renters insurance works.
Dimple
The small fold just below a tie knot that makes it sit neatly. Used in: tie a tie (four-in-hand), tie a Windsor or half-Windsor.
Dipstick
The long metal blade in the engine that shows the oil level between two marks. Used in: check engine oil, start and winterize a lawn mower.
Dispatcher
The trained person who answers an emergency call and sends help. Used in: What to do if you smell gas, do hands-only CPR, stop heavy bleeding, Signs of a heart attack, What to say when you call 911, What to do if you get lost hiking and 2 more.
Downspout
The vertical pipe that carries water from the gutter down and away from the house. Used in: clean gutters safely, get your home ready for a storm.

E

Elastic wrap
A stretchy bandage wound around a sprain for gentle support and compression. Used in: What to keep in a first aid kit.
Emergency fund
Cash set aside for surprise bills, kept separate from everyday spending. Used in: build an emergency fund, Deductible, premium, copay explained.

F

Factory reset
The built-in option that erases all content and settings from a device. Used in: wipe a phone or laptop before selling it.
Fade
A haircut where the hair gets shorter down the sides and back until it blends into the skin. Used in: ask a barber for the haircut you want.
FAST
The stroke check: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech trouble, Time to call 911. Used in: Signs of a stroke (FAST).
Fill valve
The part inside a toilet tank that refills it with water after a flush. Used in: fix a running toilet.
Firmware
The built-in software that runs a router, camera or other device, updated like an app. Used in: keep your devices updated, secure your home router, secure smart home devices.
Flapper
The rubber seal at the bottom of a toilet tank that lifts to flush and should seal after. Used in: fix a running toilet.
Four-in-hand
The simplest everyday tie knot, slightly narrow and a little uneven. Used in: tie a tie (four-in-hand), tie a Windsor or half-Windsor, tie a bow tie.

G

GFCI
Ground fault circuit interrupter: an outlet with test and reset buttons that cuts power in a fault. Used in: reset a tripped breaker or GFCI outlet.
Go-bag
A packed bag of essentials ready to grab if you must leave home fast. Used in: get your home ready for a storm, pack a go-bag.
Gross pay
What you earn before taxes and deductions come out. Used in: read a pay stub, make a budget.
Guest network
A separate network on your router for visitors and smart devices, kept apart from your computers. Used in: secure your home router, secure smart home devices.

H

Half-Windsor
A medium, symmetrical tie knot that suits most collars. Used in: tie a Windsor or half-Windsor.
Hazard lights
All four indicators flashing together to warn other drivers that you are stopped or slow. Used in: change a flat tire, What to do after a minor car accident.
Heat exhaustion
Heavy sweating, weakness and nausea from heat; cool down and rest before it becomes heat stroke. Used in: Heat exhaustion vs heat stroke.
Heat stroke
A life-threatening rise in body temperature with confusion; call 911 and cool the person fast. Used in: Heat exhaustion vs heat stroke.
Hip hinge
Bending by pushing the hips back with a flat back, the base of deadlifts and swings. Used in: deadlift and squat with good form, start strength training safely, do a kettlebell swing, do a farmer's carry.
Hypothermia
A dangerous drop in body temperature, often from being wet and cold in mild weather. Used in: Signs of hypothermia and how to warm someone.

I

Identity theft
Someone using your personal details to open accounts, borrow or claim things in your name. Used in: What affects your credit score, spot phone, text and invoice scams, spot a rental listing scam, What to do if your identity is stolen.
Inseam
The length of the inside leg seam of trousers, from crotch to hem. Used in: measure neck, sleeve, waist and inseam.

J

Joint compound
The paste used to fill and smooth drywall repairs before sanding and painting. Used in: patch a hole in drywall.
Jumper cables
Heavy cables with clamps for starting a car with a dead battery from another car. Used in: What to keep in your car emergency kit.

K

Kickback
A saw blade binding and throwing the saw back at the user, the classic power tool injury. Used in: use a circular saw safely, use a pressure washer safely.

L

Liability coverage
The part of an insurance policy that pays when you are responsible for someone else's injury or damage. Used in: How renters insurance works.
Lug nut
One of the nuts that hold a wheel on the car. Used in: change a flat tire.

M

Mail forwarding
A postal service request that sends mail from your old address to your new one for a set period. Used in: Who to tell when you change your address, What to do if an account gets hacked.
Main water shutoff
The valve that stops all water entering the home, the first thing to close in a leak. Used in: Where is my main water shutoff, keep pipes from freezing, get your home ready for a storm, What to check when touring an apartment.
Modem
The box that connects your home to the internet provider's line; the router plugs into it. Used in: fix slow home internet.

N

Net pay
What reaches your bank account after taxes and deductions: your take-home pay. Used in: read a pay stub.
Not-to-exceed estimate
A mover's quote where the final price can come in lower but never higher. Used in: hire movers without getting scammed.

O

OBD2 port
The diagnostic socket under a car's dashboard where a code reader plugs in. Used in: read a check engine code with an OBD2 scanner.
Open enrollment
The yearly window when you can choose or change work benefits such as a health plan. Used in: pick work benefits at open enrollment.
Out-of-pocket maximum
The most you pay for covered care in a plan year before insurance pays everything. Used in: Deductible, premium, copay explained, pick work benefits at open enrollment.
Out-the-door price
The full price of a car including taxes and fees, the only number to negotiate. Used in: negotiate the price of a car.

P

PASS
Using an extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side. Used in: use a fire extinguisher.
Passkey
A sign-in that uses your device's lock screen instead of a password, and cannot be phished. Used in: turn on two-step login.
Password manager
An app that creates, stores and fills a unique password for every account. Used in: organize important documents, start using a password manager, back up your phone, secure your home router, wipe a phone or laptop before selling it.
Pay stub
The statement with each paycheck showing gross pay, each deduction and net pay. Used in: read a pay stub, How filing a tax return works.
Phishing
A fake email, text or site that tries to trick you into typing a password or paying. Used in: spot a phishing email or text.
Pilot hole
A small hole drilled first so a screw goes in straight without splitting the wood. Used in: use a drill and pick the right bit.
Plunger
A rubber cup on a handle that clears clogs by pushing and pulling water through the drain. Used in: Tools every man should own, unclog a toilet, unclog a sink without chemicals.
Poison control
The free, round-the-clock help line for poisonings, 1-800-222-1222 in the US. Used in: What to keep in a first aid kit, What to do when a guest has had too much to drink, childproof your home, clean an apartment when you move out.
Premium
What you pay regularly to keep an insurance policy active. Used in: read a pay stub, Deductible, premium, copay explained, pick work benefits at open enrollment.
Primer
A base coat that seals a surface so paint sticks and covers evenly. Used in: patch a hole in drywall, paint a room, start and winterize a lawn mower.

R

Recovery codes
One-time codes that let you into an account if you lose the phone used for two-step login. Used in: turn on two-step login, What to do if an account gets hacked.
Renters insurance
A policy that covers a tenant's belongings and liability, which the landlord's policy does not. Used in: What to check before signing a lease, find an apartment to rent, How renters insurance works.
Replacement cost
Insurance that pays what it costs to buy an item new, rather than its used value. Used in: How renters insurance works.
Router
The device that shares your internet connection with every device at home. Used in: keep your devices updated, secure your home router, fix slow home internet.

S

Safety arms
Adjustable bars on a rack that catch the barbell if you cannot press it back up. Used in: bench press safely.
Screening
A test for a disease before you have symptoms, such as a blood pressure or colon check. Used in: What health checkups men need by age.
Security deposit
Money a landlord holds against damage or unpaid rent, returned when you move out. Used in: get your security deposit back.
Snowball method
Paying off debts smallest balance first for quick wins, then rolling that payment on. Used in: pay off debt: avalanche vs snowball.
Spotter
A person who stands ready to take the bar if you cannot finish a lift. Used in: bench press safely.
Standard drink
A drink holding a set amount of alcohol, so beer, wine and spirits can be compared. Used in: drink sensibly and know your limit.
Star pattern
Tightening wheel nuts in a crisscross order so the wheel seats evenly. Used in: change a flat tire.
Stud
A vertical wooden or metal beam inside a wall, the solid place to hang anything heavy. Used in: Tools every man should own, use a drill and pick the right bit, find a stud (with and without a finder), Which wall anchor to use, read a tape measure, mount a TV or heavy mirror and 1 more.

T

Taper
A haircut that gets gradually shorter toward the neck and ears, softer than a fade. Used in: ask a barber for the haircut you want.
Taut-line hitch
An adjustable loop knot for tent guy lines that you can slide to tighten. Used in: Knots every man should know.
Torque wrench
A wrench that clicks or reads out when a bolt reaches a set tightness. Used in: use a socket wrench and torque wrench.
Tread
The grooved rubber on a tire that grips the road; worn tread slips in rain. Used in: check tire pressure and tread, get your car ready for winter.
Trucker's hitch
A knot that works like a pulley to cinch a load down tight. Used in: Knots every man should know.
Two-step login
Signing in with a password plus a second proof, such as an app code or passkey. Used in: turn on two-step login, spot a phishing email or text, What to do if an account gets hacked, What to do if your identity is stolen, secure smart home devices.

V

Vesting
The schedule by which employer retirement contributions become fully yours. Used in: What a 401k match is and why to take it.
Virtual private network
A service that encrypts your connection, useful on public networks. Used in: use public wireless networks safely.

W

Wall anchor
A plug or toggle that grips drywall where there is no stud behind it. Used in: Which wall anchor to use, mount a TV or heavy mirror, assemble flat-pack furniture.
Warm-up
Easy movement and practice rounds before exercise that prepare the body for harder effort. Used in: start strength training safely, warm up before exercise.
Withholding
Tax your employer takes from each paycheck and sends to the tax agency for you. Used in: read a pay stub, How filing a tax return works.

Last reviewed . First published .