WORD OF THE DAY
The First Twenty Five
disseminate
• Function: transitive verb
1 : to spread abroad as though
sowing seed <disseminate ideas>
2 : to disperse throughout
[syn: circulate, circularize,
circularise, distribute, propagate,
broadcast, spread, diffuse, disperse,
pass around]
at the eleventh hour
• at the last minute; almost too late
• Janey finished the work just in time.
It was at the eleventh hour, but it
wasn’t late!
lethargy
• Function: noun
1 : abnormal drowsiness
2 : the quality or state of being lazy,
sluggish, or indifferent
synonyms LANGUOR, LASSITUDE,
STUPOR, TORPOR
burn the midnight oil
• study/work all night or until very,
very late at night
• Jess had to burn the midnight oil
because he put off studying for the
history test until the last minute.
adherent
• Function: adjective
1 : able or tending to adhere
2 : connected or associated with
especially by contract
3 : ADNATE
cost an arm and a leg
• cost a lot; be very expensive
•
My father’s new SUV is really nice.
It should be, though, because it cost
an arm and a leg.
intimidate
• Function: transitive verb
: to make timid or fearful :
FRIGHTEN; especially : to
compel or deter by or as if by
threats
synonyms INTIMIDATE, COW,
BULLDOZE, BULLY, BROWBEAT
dog days
• extremely hot days (usually in mid to
late summer)
•
We always take a vacation to a
cooler place during the dog days of
summer.
impudent
• adj.
• Characterized by offensive boldness; insolent or
impertinent. Synonyms shameless. 1: marked by
casual disrespect; [syn: insolent, snotty-nosed,
flip] 2: improperly forward or bold; [syn: fresh,
impertinent, overbold, smart, saucy, sassy]
• Obsolete. Immodest.
•
im pu·dent·ly adv.
elbow grease
• hard work and effort
• The jeep got really dirty on the
hunting trip, but with a wash and
some elbow grease, it’ll look like new
again.
painstaking
• Function: adjective
: taking pains : expending,
showing, or involving diligent
care and effort adj.
– Synonyms at meticulous, conscientious,
scrupulous.
field day
• a very enjoyable time; a special time
• The baby sitter let us watch as many
DVDs as we wanted while my parents
were gone. We really had a field day!
bawling
• Function: verb
1 : to cry out loudly and
unrestrainedly : YELL, BELLOW
2 : to cry loudly : WAIL
transitive senses : to cry out at
the top of one's voice
green
• inexperienced
• Don’t expect Jack to do that job all
by himself yet. He’s a bit too green,
but with morepractice, he’ll do fine.
gauge
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also gage n.
– A standard or scale of measurement or an instrument used to measure.
A means of estimating or evaluating; a test: a gauge of character. See
Synonyms at standard.
The interior diameter of a shotgun barrel as determined by the number of
lead balls of a size exactly fitting the barrel that are required to make one
pound. Often used in combination: a 12-gauge shotgun.
Thickness or diameter, as of sheet metal or wire.
The fineness of knitted cloth as determined by the number of loops per 1
1/2 inches.
Function: transitive verb
1 a : to measure precisely the size, dimensions, or other measurable
quantity of b : to determine the capacity or contents of c : ESTIMATE,
JUDGE <hard to gauge his moods>
2 a : to check for conformity to specifications or limits b : to measure off
or set out
have something down pat
• to understand something completely
and thoroughly
• Chelsea knew she did well on the
test. She studied for a week and had
all the material down pat.
atypical
• Function: adjective
• not typical : IRREGULAR,
UNUSUAL, untypical
– Not conforming to type; unusual or
irregular, not typical, not like the usual
or normal type.
• [ant: typical]
in over one’s head
• in a situation that is too difficult to
manage
• Matthew needed help with the
computer project. He was in over his
head and just could not handle it
alone.
entitled
• Function: transitive verb
1 To give a name or title to
:DESIGNATE
2 to furnish with proper grounds for
seeking or claiming something
3 qualified for by right according to
law;
jump the gun
• do something before it’s time to do it
• Chuck jumped the gun and spoiled
Trevor’s surprise birthday party. He
accidentally told him he was bringing
the cake to his party!
entice
• Function: transitive verb
: to attract artfully or
adroitly or by arousing hope
or desire : TEMPT
synonym see LURE
keep one’s nose to the
grindstone
• stay diligent; steadily work hard
• If Amanda keeps her nose to the
grindstone, she just might finish her
semester project a day early.
agitated
• Function: verb
1 a obsolete : to give motion to b : to move with
an irregular, rapid, or violent action <the storm
agitated the sea>
2 : to excite and often trouble the mind or
feelings of : DISTURB
3 a : to discuss excitedly and earnestly b : to stir
up public discussion of
intransitive senses : to attempt to arouse public
feeling <agitated for better schools>
synonym see SHAKE, DISCOMPOSE
let sleeping dogs lie
• don’t cause problems by doing
something that isn’t necessary
• Julie said something mean to her
sister Jenna, but Jenna decided to
let sleeping dogs lie and not make
matters worse.
feasible
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adj.
Capable of being accomplished or brought about; possible: a
feasible plan. See Synonyms at possible.
Used or dealt with successfully; suitable: feasible new sources of
energy.
Logical; likely: a feasible explanation.
fea si·bil i·ty or fea si·ble·ness n.
fea si·bly adv.
capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as
they are [syn: executable, practicable, viable, workable] adv : in a
practicable manner; so as to be feasible [syn: practicably]