ENGLISH synonyms antonym ,pairs of word,idioms.

List of Synonyms and AntonymsLIST OF SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

ABANDON: To give up completely - abandoned the sinking ship.Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake

ABASH: To lose self-confidence; to confuse, put to shame – abashed before the assembleddignitaries. Synonyms: fluster, disconcert, discomfit, discompose.Antonym: (adj.) self-possessed

ABDICATE: To give up claim to - abdicated the throne.Synonyms: renounce, abandon, relinquish

ABET: To encourage -or support - treacherously abetted the enemy.Synonyms: spur, incite. Antonym: deter

ABRIDGE: To shorten - abridged his lengthy speech.Synonyms: curtail, diminish, retrench.Antonyms: protract, elongate, amplify

ABROGATE: To abolish or render void - a treaty abrogated by mutual consent.Synonyms: annul, nullify, rescind, void.

ABSTEMIOUS: Moderate in the use of food or drink - abstemious in his habits.Synonym: temperate

ACADEMIC: Pertaining to school; theoretical academic interests; an academic discussion, withno practical implications. Synonym: scholastic

ACCEDE: To agree to - accede to a request.Synonym: assent.Antonym: demur

ACCELERATE: - To quicken, speed tip - took an accelerated course in order to graduate early.Synonym: expedite (adj. expeditious). Antonym: retard.

ACCOLADE: An award or salute - a tremendous accolade for a returning hero. Synonyms:tribute, ovation

ACCORD: Agreement or harmony - in full accord with his view. Synonyms: concord, concurrence. Antonyms: dissension, discord

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ACRIMONIOUS: Sharp or harsh in language or temper - stung by the acrimonious remark.Synonyms: caustic, acerb, pungent, tart, mordant, acrid; (noun) asperity.Antonyms: suave, affable,

ACUMEN: Keenness of mind or insight - showing exceptional business acumen.Synonyms: perspicacity, discernment, perception. Antonym: obtuseness.

ADMONISH (noun: ADMONITION): To warn or find fault gently - admonishing the unrulychild. Synonyms: chide, caution, reprimand, reprehend, reproach.

ADVERSARY: (adj.: ADVERSE): An opponent - his adversary in a bitter debate.Synonym: antagonist. Antonyms: cohort, confederate, ally, accomplice.

ADVERSITY: Misfortune - calm in the face of adversity. Synonyms: affliction, mischance, reverses.

AESTHETIC: Pertaining to the beautiful - interested in aesthetic values rather than in purelypractical affairs.

AFFABLE: Sociable, courteous, and agreeable in manner a much admired, affable gentleman.Synonyms: civil, complaisant, benign, gracious, genial, urbane, cordial. Antonyms: curt, brusque, rude, boorish, surly.

AFFLUENT: Prosperous, flourishing; copious - a large bequest from an affluent grandfather.Synonyms: opulent, profuse. Antonyms: destitute, impecunious.

AGGRESSIVE (noun: AGGRESSION. an unprovoked attack): self-assertive; attacking, offensive -annoyed people by his aggressive attitude. Synonyms: bumptious, officious, obtrusive. Antonyms: meek, humble, retiring, diffident.

ALACRITY: Eagerness; cheerful promptness - responded to the flattering offer with alacrity.Synonyms: celerity, briskness, energy, animation. Antonyms: apathy, nonchalance, sluggishness, lethargy, phlegmatism.

ALIENATE: To estrange - alterated by his gruff manner.

ALLAY: To calm; to lessen in severity - at ease now that his fears have been allayed.Synonyms: appease, alleviate, pacify, assuage, abate, mitigate, propitiate, mollify, placate.Antonyms: intensify, aggravate.

ALLUDE (noun: ALLUSION): To refer to indirectly - alluded quite subtly to his friend'smisfortune. Synonyms: insinuate, intimate, imply. 

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Antonyms: refer, cite.

ALLURE: To tempt by flattery or an attractive offer - allured by the prospect of a new job.Synonyms: lure, decoy, inveigle, entice, seduce, wheedle, beguile, cajole. Antonym: repel.

AMBIGUOUS: Uncertain, vague, capable of being inter- in more than one way - puzzled by theambiguous statement. Synonyms: hazy, obscure, equivocal, dubious, nebulous.Antonyms: explicit, unquestionable.

AMENABLE: Obedient; willing to submit - amenable to the suggestion. Synonyms: tractable, docile, responsive. Antonyms: intractable, refractory, recalcitrant.

AMIABLE: Good-natured; friendly - attracted friends by his amiable disposition. Synonym: complaisant.

ANACHRONISM: A thing placed or occurring out of its normal time - A machine gun at theBattle of Yorktown would be an anachronism.

ANALOGY (adj.: ANALOGOUS): A relation between two things shown in the resemblance notof the things themselves but of their characteristics - He indicated points of analogy betweenthe two situations. Synonyms:  correspondence, affinity. Antonym: anomaly (a deviation from the general rule).

ANARCHY: State of confusion or lawlessness - a country brought to utter anarchy by civil war.Synonyms: chaos, pandemonium.

ANIMUS: A feeling of hatred-felt no animus, even against the enemy. Synonyms: enmity, rancor, malevolence, animosity. Antonym: amity.

ANNALS: Historical records - in the annals of literature.

ANONYMOUS: Of unknown authorship-an anonymous publication.

ANTHOLOGY: A collection of choice literary works – an anthology of modern poetry.

ANTITHESIS (adj.: ANTITHETICAL): Contrast; the direct opposite - His selfish attitude seemedto me the antithesis o patriotism.

APATHY (adj.: APATHETIC): Lack of feeling, emotion, or interest - attributed his failure toapathy, rather than lack of ability. Synonyms:  torpor, lethargy, sluggishness, listlessness,languor, lassitude, dispassion; (verb) languish. Antonyms: zeal, animation.

APPREHENSIVE (verb: APPREHEND): Fearful - Being unprepared, John is apprehensive of theexamination.

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APPRISE: To inform –apprised his lieutenants of the new situation. 

APPROBATION: Approval; praise -a plan that met with hearty approbation. Synonyms:sanction, commendation. Antonym: disapprobation.

APT (noun: APTITUDE, APTNESS): ((1) Likely; inclined or disposed - apt to succeed. Synonym:prone. (2) Fit, suitable - an apt remark. Synonyms: appropriate, felicitous. (3) Skillful, expert -apt at woodcarving. Synonyms: deft, dextrous, adept. Antonym: inept.

ARBITER: A person who has authority to decide matters in dispute - a fair decision renderedby the arbiter. Synonyms: mediator, arbitrator

ARCHETYPE: An original pattern - copies reproduced from the archetype. Synonym:prototype. Antonyms: Stereotype, facsimile, replica.

ARID: Dry; barren - the arid desert land. Synonyms: jejune, parched. Antonyms: arable, fertile.

ARISTOCRACY: Government by the best people; a privileged class -special privileges enjoyedby the aristocracy. Synonym: oligarchy. Antonym: democracy.

ARMISTICE: A temporary suspension of hostilities. The armistice halted the war. Synonym:truce

ARTFUL: Sly; crafty - attained his mean objective by artful measures. Synonyms: cunning,wily, adroit, ingenious, guileful. Antonyms: guileless, ingenuous, artless. 

ARTICULATE (verb): To speak clearly or distinctly - articulated slowly so that he could not bemisunderstood. (adj.): Capable of speech; distinct, clear – an articulate man, always ready togive his views.

ASCETIC: Rigorously self-denying - pursued the ascetic life of a monk. Synonyms: austere,abstinent. Antonyms: wanton, self-indulgent.

ASKANCE: With distrust - looked askance at the forged signature.

ASSEVERATE: To declare positively; to confirm - asseverated his views with conviction.Synonyms: assert, avouch, aver, avow, allege. Antonyms: gainsay, controvert, recant, rescind,abjure, disavow.

ASSIDUOUS: Industrious - an assiduous worker, toiling long hours. Synonyms: sedulous,attentive, diligent, indefatigable. Antonyms:  indolent, slothful.

ASYLUM: A place offering shelter and retreat - found asylum from persecution. Synonyms:sanctuary, refuge.

ATHEIST: One who denies that God exists - The atheist declared, "There is no God." Synonyms:infidel, agnostic, skeptic.

ATTRIBUTE (verb): Assign -attributed his success to bard work. Synonym: ascribe (noun): An

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inherent quality -Generosity was his outstanding attribute.

AUGMENT: To increase or enlarge - an army augmented by numerous enlistments. Synonyms:enhance, amplify. Antonyms: abate, curtail.

AUSPICIOUS: Indicating a happy outcome - The prospect for this project appears auspicious.Synonyms: propitious, fortunate. Antonyms: ominous, foreboding.

AUTHENTIC: Genuine -proved to be an authentic document. Synonyms: veritable, bona fide.Antonyms: apocryphal, counterfeit, spurious, bogus.

AUTOCRATIC: Despotic - feared by the masses as an autocratic ruler. Synonym: tyrannical.Antonym: benevolent.

AVARICE: Excessive greed - a fortune accumulated by avarice and miserliness. Synonyms:covetousness, cupidity, avidity. Antonym: magnanimity.

AWRY: Unsymmetrical; not straight - the picture, hanging awry on the wall. Synonym: askew.BANAL: Lacking in freshness, originality, or vigor-bored by his banal remarks. Synonyms:commonplace, hackneyed, prosaic, trite, stereotyped, vapid. Antonyms: racy, original, vivid.

BANEFUL (noun: BANE: poison; source of harm): Destructive, poisonous - a baneful effect,causing serious injury. Synonyms: deleterious, pernicious, virulent, noxious, toxic. Antonym:beneficent.

BANTER: Good-natured teasing or ridicule-The two wits I exchanged banter, to theamusement of the audience. Synonyms: raillery, chaff

BATON: A stick or staff - The conductor wielded his baton gracefully.

BELIE: To give a false idea of - His gracious manner belled his evil purpose. Synonym:misrepresent

BELLICOSE; Inclined to quarrel; warlike - His bellicose attitude often got John into fights.Synonyms: pugnacious, contentious, disputatious. Antonyms: pacific, conciliatory.

BELLIGERENT: Engaged in war - two belligerent nations warring fiercely.BENEVOLENT: Kindly; charitable - like a benevolent monarch, bestowing many favors.Synonyms: benign, benignant, gracious, magnanimous. Antonyms: malevolent, malignant.

BEREAVE: To deprive or leave desolate by loss - a widow just bereaved of her husband.

BESMIRCH: To soil or dirty - besmirched his opponent's good name with vile epithets.Synonyms: stilly, defile, smirch, bespatter.

BIASED: Prejudiced - misled by a biased point of view. Synonyms: bigoted, arbitrary, partial,

partisan. Antonyms: disinterested, equitable.BIBLIOPHILE: A lover of books - The bibliophile fingered the old book fondly. Antonym:bibliophobe. BIZARRE: Queer; unusual in appearance- bizarre clothes, outlandish in the extreme.Synonyms: odd, fantastic, grotesque, eccentric. BLAND: Gentle; polite; agreeable - a bland diet, without irritating foods. Synonyms: mild,suave (affable or persuasive in manner), soothing, non-irritating. Antonyms: piquant, tart,racy, caustic, acrid, pungent. BLANDISHMENT: A flattering speech or act - attracted people by his blandishments.

BLEMISH (verb): To scar or spoil - Bad associates blemished his character; (noun): Adisfigurement, defect - a character without a blemish.

BLIGHT: To ruin or decay - the rotting wheat, blighted by incessant rain. Synonyms: wither,blast BLITHE: Gay and light-hearted in spirit or mood - spread cheer with her blithe spirit.Synonyms: jocund, merry, joyous. Antonyms: dejected, forlorn, abject. BOG: A swamp - sank into the spongy bog. Synonyms: morass, fen, quagmire, mire. 

BOMBASTIC (noun: BOMBAST): High-sounding; pretentious in language - a bombastic speech,inflated with meaningless high-flown words. Synonyms: ranting, pompous, fustian. BOORISH: Unrefined in speech or manners - exhibited the boorish manners of abackwoodsman. Synonyms: churlish, uncouth, uncultured, crass. Antonym: suave. BUCOLIC: Pertaining to the country - a bucolic poem - the joys of the shepherd. Synonyms:pastoral, rustic, rural.

BUFFOON: A clown - acting like a buffoon, full of ludicrous tricks. Synonym: harlequin. BULWARK: (1) An embankment used as a fortification - a lofty bulwark for defense. Synonym:rampart. 2) A person, idea, or object serving as a protection - acted as a bulwark in the fightagainst crime. 

BUMPTIOUS: Obnoxiously conceited or self-assertive - a bumptious monitor, puffed up withhis own importance. Synonyms: aggressive, arrogant, contumelious, overbearing.

CABAL: A small group of persons engaged in plotting - a cabal of prominent persons united tooverthrow the government. Synonyms: junto, faction.

CACOPHONOUS: Unharmonious sounding - a cacophonous blare of trumpets, noisy anddiscordant. Synonyms: dissonant, discordant, blatant, strident, raucous. Antonyms:mellifluous, euphonious, dulcet.

CADAVEROUS: Corpselike; hence, haggard, pale -His face appeared cadaverous from long

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imprisonment. Synonyms: ghastly, gaunt, pallid (noun: pallor), wan, ashen. Antonyms:rubicund, florid. CALLOUS: Unfeeling or insensitive - made callous by long suffering. Synonyms: insensible,obdurate. CALUMNIATE: To accuse falsely or maliciously in order to injure another's reputation; slander- calumniated his political opponent by spreading false rumors. Synonyms: asperse, vilify,defame, scandalize.

CANDID (noun: CANDOR): Frank, outspoken; impartial a candid reply that could hardly bemore forthright. Synonyms: artless, ingenuous, unbiased. Antonyms: guileful, evasive. CANTANKEROUS: Ill-natured; quarrelsome – showed a cantankerous and sullen disposition.Synonyms: petulant, peevish, contentious, pugnacious, testy, choleric, fretful. Antonyms:amiable, affable, equable. CAPRICIOUS: Inclined, through some whim or fancy change the mind, purpose, or actions

suddenly - a capricious person, undependable in mood or temper. Synonyms: fickle, fitful,changeable, erratic, inconstant, crotchety, whimsical, mercurial. Antonyms: steadfast,constant, even-tempered. CAPTIOUS: Quick to find fault about trifles- a captious critic pouncing on slight laws.Synonyms: hypercritical, carping, carviling, censorious.

CARICATURE: A picture or other description of a person which exaggerates ludicrously one ormore of his distinctive features - not a realistic portrait but a malicious caricature.

CASTIGATE: To punish or criticize severely - castigated for using improper language.Synonyms: reprove, upbraid, reprehend, censure, reprimand, chasten. Antonyms: commend,eulogize, laud. CELESTIAL: Pertaining to the sky; heavenly-a celestial pageant of bright stars. Synonyms:ethereal; (noun) firmament. CHAUVINIST. An extreme patriot-a chauvinist with most pride in his country. Synonym:jingoist.

CHICANERY: Trickery, deception,- practised chicanery all his shady dealings. Synonyms:duplicity, craft, stratagem, wile, subterfuge. CHRONIC: Continuing a long time; habitual-a. chronic complaint, persisting for years.Synonyms: persistent, unremitting, inveterate, incessant, constant. Antonyms: intermittent,sporadic, infrequent. CIRCUMSPECT: Cautious - looked about him circumspectly. Synonyms: prudent, vigilant,discreet, wary. Antonyms: rash, indiscreet, reckless, precipitate, foothardy, temerarious,headstrong. 

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CIRCUMVENT: To gain an advantage by the use of trick to evade by the use of deception; to goaround - circumvented the law by evasive practices. Synonyms: thwart, balk, outwit, delude. CIVIL: (1) Of or having to do with citizens or the state - civil duties as well as civil liberties. 2)Polite, courteous - answered in a civil fashion. Synonyms: respectful, gracious. CLAMOROUS: Loud and noisy - a clamorous outburst the crowd outside. Synonyms:vociferous, obstreperous, blatant, raucous, strident. Antonyms: muted, quiet. CLANDESTINE: Secret; stealthy - a clandestine meeting known only to a few. Synonyms:furtive, covert, surreptitious. Antonyms: overt, manifest, above-board. CLEMENT: Merciful; gentle - a clement judge who tempered justice with leniency. Synonyms:

compassionate, forbearing. Antonyms: relentless, ruthless.

COALITION (verb: COALESCE): Alliance; merging of various units into one unit - three partiesforming a coalition to rule the country. Synonyms: amalgamation, consolidation, fusion. COERCION: Compelling a person by physical force or other means to do something against hiswill - rendered his services without the slightest coercion. Synonyms: constraint, restraint,impelling. COGENT: Having the force to compel, usually by appealing to reason - persuaded by cogentarguments. Synonym: persuasive. COLLUSION: Working together secretly for an evil purpose - acted in collusion to overthrowthe government. Synonyms: collaboration, conspiracy, conniving, machination.

COMMODIOUS: Roomy - a commodious apartment. Synonyms: spacious, capacious, ample. COMPATIBLE: Harmonious; able, to get along together parted company because they were notcompatible. Synonyms: congruous, consistent. Antonyms: incongruous, discordant,incompatible. COMPENDIUM (adj.: COMPENDIOUS): A brief summary of the main ideas of a larger work - acompendium of chemistry in a slim volume. Synonyms: synopsis, digest, precis, abstract,epitome. COMPENSATION: Payment for services - just compensation for his labor. Synonyms: stipend,remuneration, recompense, emolument. COMPLACENT: Self-satisfied - looked on his own performance with a complacent smile.Synonym: smug. COMPUNCTION: Regret for wrongdoing - displayed slight compunction for his misdeed.Synonyms: contrition, penitence, atonement, remorse, qualm. CONCEDE: To yield; to admit as true; to grant - conceded victory to a superior force.Synonyms: acquiesce, capitulate.

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 CONDIGN: Well-deserved (applied chiefly to punishment) - received condign punishment forhis crime. CONDOLE (noun: CONDOLENCE): To express sympathy with another in sorrow, pain, ormisfortune - condoled with each other in their grief. Synonyms: commiserate, showcompassion, solace. 

CONDONE: To forgive or overlook (an offense) - condoned the deed, in view of the offender'sage. Synonyms: extenuate, palliate, mitigate, gloss.CONFEDERATE (noun): A person allied with others for a special purpose (frequently a badone) - joined his confederate in secret enterprise. Synonyms: collaborator, accomplice. (adj.):United or allied in a conspiracy - two confederate groups hurrying to their rendezvous.

CONGENIAL: ((1) Possessing similar interests and tastes; able to get on well with others -congenial people with similar backgrounds. Synonym: compatible. (2) Agreeable - congenialto his taste.

CONJECTURE: To guess - Without facts, we can only conjecture about his guilt. Synonyms:surmise, presume.

CONSECRATE: ((1) To set apart as sacred - consecrate the battlefield with a monument to thedead heroes. Synonyms: hallow, sanctify. Antonym: desecrate. (2) To devote or dedicate tosome aim - consecrated his life to teaching.

CONSENSUS. General agreement - The consensus of the committee was that no action shouldbe taken. Synonym: accord.

CONSTERNATION: Amazement; lack of courage caused by fearful prospect - The threat struckdeep consternation into John. Synonyms: dismay, bewilderment.

CONSTRUE (noun: CONSTRUCTION): To interpret, explain the sense of, or analyze - construedthe statement to his own advantage.

CONSUMMATE (adj.): Perfect or highly accomplished - achieved with consummate skill.Antonyms: botched. bungled, inept (verb): To complete, bring to perfection - consummatedthe deal without delay.

CONTEMPTUOUS: Expressive of contempt (an emotion involving anger and disgust) - cast acontemptuous look at his subordinate. Synonyms: supercilious, scornful, disdainful,contumelious.

CONVIVIAL: Festive; gay - a convivial party. Synonyms: jovial, jocund, mirthful. Antonyms:lugubrious, dolorous, mirthless.

COPIOUS: Plentiful - shed copious tears at the bad news. Synonyms: profuse, bountiful,abundant. Antonyms: meager, scant.

CORPULENT: Fat - corpulent due to excessive eating. Synonyms: obese, portly. Antonyms:

11gaunt, lank, emaciated, peaked.

COSMOPOLITAN (noun): One who is at home in all countries - A cosmopolitan can feel at easeanywhere in the world. (adj.): Free from local prejudices - a world-wide traveler,cosmopolitan in tastes and attitudes. Synonyms: Catholic. Antonyms: parochial, provincial.

COTERIE: A group of people joined by common interests a coterie of select friend. Synonym:clique.

COUNTENANCE (noun): A face - His countenance expressed his complete disgust. Synonym:visage. (verb): To approve - refused to countenance disrespectful conduct. Synonym: sanction.

CRASS: Coarse and stupid - displayed crass ignorance. Synonym: gross.

CRAVEN (noun): Coward - the deed of a craven, motivated by fear. Synonym. Poltroon. (adj.):Cowardly - a craven act which shocked the world. Synonyms: pusillanimous, dastardly.Antonyms: stalwart, intrepid, valiant, stout-hearted.

CREDENCE: Trust or belief - gave little credence to the rumor. Synonym: conviction. Antonym:skepticism.

CREDIBLE: Worthy of belief - a credible story, true to life. Antonym: incredible.

CREDITABLE: Deserving or reflecting Credit or honor - applauded for his creditableperformance. Synonyms: praiseworthy, meritorious, commendable. Antonyms: discreditable,infamous, opprobrious, ignominious.

CREDULOUS: Inclined to believe anything; easily imposed upon - a credulous fool whomanyone can dupe. Synonym: gullible. Antonyms:  incredulous, skeptical.

CRINGE: To shrink in fear - cringing before superior force. Synonyms: cower, flinch, fawn,truckle, wince.

CRUCIAL: Decisive or critical; difficult - the crucial event that decided the outcome. CRYPTIC:Containing hidden meaning - a cryptic message, difficult to decipher. Synonyms:  occult,enigmatic. Antonyms:  palpable, manifest. 

CULPABLE: Deserving blame or censure - removed from office for culpable negligence.Synonyms:  censurable, reprehensible.

CUMBROUS: Burdensome and clumsy - a cumbrous knapsack, impeding his march. Synonyms: cumbersome, unwieldy, bulk. CURB: To control, check, or restrain - forcibly curbed thepeople's protest. Synonyms:  repress, subdue.

CURSORY: Hurried; hence, superficial - Time permitted only a cursory examination.Antonyms:  painstaking, meticulous. CURT: Rudely abrupt -offended by the curt response.Synonyms:  blunt, brusque, bluff. Antonyms:  affable, civil.

CYNICAL: Sneeringly distrustful of the good motives or conduct of others - belittled the hero

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with a cynical remark. Synonyms:  sarcastic, surly.

DEARTH: Scarcity - a dearth of news, brought about by censorship. Antonyms:  plethora,abundance.

DEFERENCE: Submitting to the wishes or judgment of another - yielded out of deference tothe old man. Synonyms:  respect, complaisance, veneration. Antonym  recalcitrance.

DEITY: A god -The sun was a deity to ancient peoples. Synonym: divinity.

DELECTABLE: Very pleasing - a delectable meal, tastefully prepared. DELETE: To erase orcancel, take out or remove - deletedan offensive phrase. Synonyms:  expunge, censor, efface,eradicate.

DELINEATE: To sketch or portray - striking features, delineated by a master artist. 

DELINQUENT (noun): An offender - found to be a delinquent by the court. (adj.): Failing tofulfill an obligation - too many people who are delinquent in meeting their civic duties.Synonym: derelict.

DELUGE: A great flood; downpour - a spring deluge which caused the river to overflow.

DEMAGOGUE: A leader who tries to stir the passions of people for his own purposes - the mobroused by an unprincipled demagogue. 

DEMEANOR: Behavior; bearing - carrying himself with a proud demeanor. Synonyms: deportment, mien.

DEMURE: Affectedly or falsely modest or prim; serious demure as a Victorian maiden.Synonyms:  sedate, staid, decorous, prudish, coy. Antonyms:  immodest, frivolous.

DENOUNCE (noun: DENUNCIATION): To speak against - denounced by the press as a traitor.Synonyms:  stigmatize, censure, reprehend, castigate- Antonyms:  laud, eulogize.

DEPLETE: To empty or to use up - depleted the public treasury by vast building programs.Synonyms:  exhaust, drain. Antonyms:  replenish; (adj.) replete.

DEPLORE: To express sorrow or grief over - a lamentable situation deplored by all parties.Synonyms:  lament, decry, grieve.

DEPRAVED: Of low morals; corrupt - a depraved mind, devising evil. Synonyms:  debased,wicked, vicious, perverted.

DEPRECATE: To plead or argue against a certain course of action - deprecated the proposalseverely. Synonyms:  remonstrate, protest, decry, expostulate. Antonym:  sanction.

DEPRECIATE: To belittle or speak slightingly of - depreciated John's acting ability. Synonyms: disparage, derogate (adj. derogatory). Antonyms:  enhance, magnify, extol, laud, eulogize.

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DEVASTATION: Widespread ruin - the city left in utter devastation by war. Synonyms: destruction, desolation.

DEVIOUS: ((1) Winding; indirect - took a devious, rather than the direct way home. Synonym:circuitous. (2) Straying from the right course - used devious means to attain his wicked ends.Synonyms:  crooked, erring.

DEVOID: Lacking in; not possessing - a speech devoid of even a trace of ill-will. Synonym:destitute. Antonyms:  abounding, prevalent.

DEVOUT: Devoted to religious observances - devout in his regularity of attendance at worship.Synonyms:  pious, religious. Antonym  impious.

DICTUM: Art authoritative statement; a saying-an imperial dictum demanding instantcompliance.

DIDACTIC: Designed to teach, imparting a lesson - a poem with a didactic purpose. Synonym:pedagogical.

DIFFIDENT: Lacking in self-confidence- too diffident to lead a group. Synonyms:  shy, timid,reserved, reticent, retiring. Antonyms:  forward, aggressive.

DILEMMA: A situation calling for a choice between two equally difficult alternatives; hence, adifficult or perplexing situation - faced with a dilemma defying solution. Synonyms:predicament, quandary, plight.

DILETTANTE: One who dabbles in the fine arts for amusement only and without concentratedstudy - a doctor by profession, a dilettante in art. Synonyms:  amateur, connoisseur.

DISCONCERT: To confuse; to embarrass - disconcerted by his suspicious stare. Synonyms: perturb, discomfit, discompose, abash, disquiet, fluster.

DISCONSOLATE: Depressed; without hope or possibility of consolation - made disconsolate byabject poverty. Synonyms: inconsolable, dejected. Antonyms:  blithesome, carefree.

DISCOURSE: To converse or talk; to discuss - discoursed at length on the rise of politicalparties. DISCRETE: Separate - two discrete issues, totally unrelated. 

DISCURSIVE: Rambling from one subject to another - a discursive letter, covering many topics.Synonyms:  desultory, digressive.

DISPARITY (adj.: DISPARATE): Inequality; difference in image, quantity, character, or rank -great disparity between promise and performance.

DISPASSIONATE: Free from feeling or partiality - coldly dispassionate as the chairman of themeeting. Synonyms:  palm, impartial. Antonym  partial.

DISPATCH (verb): To do speedily; to send off - dispatched with remarkable promptness.Synonym: expedite. (noun): A speedy performance; the sending off of something - done with

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all possible dispatch. Synonyms:  celerity, alacrity.

DISPEL: To drive away; to scatter - dispelled a doubt that had lingered. Synonyms: dissipate,disperse, diffuse.

DISSENT (noun: DISSENSION): To disagree; to differ in opinion - He dissented violently,rejecting compromise.

DISSOLUTE: Living loosely; unrestrained in conduct or morals - his life wasted by dissoluteconduct. Synonyms:  debauched, dissipated, profligate.

DISTRAUGHT: Mentally distressed; distracted - distraught by trials and tribulations. Synonym:harassed.

DIVERSE: (verb: DIVERSIFY; noun: DIVISIBILITY): Varied; different - two diverse characters;one candid, the other insincere. Synonym: multifarious.

DIVERTING: Entertaining - a diverting one of the most amusing I've ever seen.

DIVULGE: To make public or reveal - refused to divulge his source of information. Synonyms: disclose, impart.

DOGMATIC: Positive in expressing an opinion; asserting an opinion as though it were anundisputed fact - spoken dogmatically, as if the speaker considered himself infallible.Synonyms:  overbearing, opinionated, peremptory, dictatorial.

DOLOROUS: Sorrowful; mournful - a dolorous song full of sorrow for past joys. Synonyms: doleful, lugubrious, grievous. Antonyms:  jocund, blithe, mirthful.

DYNAMIC: Forceful - possessed dynamic energy, tireless and powerful. Synonym: energetic.Antonyms:  static, inert, dormant, torpid, sluggish, quiescent.

ECCLESIASTIC (adj.): Pertaining to the clergy or the church - recognized as an authority inecclesiastic matters. Antonyms:  secular, lay. (noun): A clergyman - an ecclesiastic of liberalviews.

EDICT: A public command or proclamation issued by an authority - proclaimed by royal edict.Synonym: decree.

EDIFY: To instruct or uplift, particularly in morals or religion - a story that edifies the reader,as well as entertains him.

EFFETE: No longer productive; hence, lacking in or, worn out - powerful in ancient days, nowan effete civilization.

EGOTISTIC: Conceited - an egotistic person, flourishing on praise. Synonyms:  egocentric, vain.Antonym: altruistic.

EGREGIOUS: Outstandingly bad an egregious mistake with serious implications.

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EJACULATE: To exclaim or utter suddenly – ejaculated a cry of horror.

ELICIT: To draw out – elicited no response from the audience. Synonyms:  evoke, extract,extort.

ELUCIDATE: To make clear; to explain – elucidated his theory so that even a schoolboy couldunderstand it. Synonym: clarify.

EMISSARY: A person sent on an errand or mission - delegated his emissary to conclude a pact.ENGENDER: To cause, produce, or stir up-an act that engendered good will.ENNUI: Boredom; weariness of mind-fell asleep at the meeting from sheer ennui.ENSUE: To follow or result-Silence ensued when the leader arose to speak.ENTREAT: To beg earnestly – entreated the judge to show mercy. Synonyms:  solicit,supplicate, beseech, implore, importune; (adj.) importunate, mendicant, suppliant

EPHEMERAL: Very short-lived - an ephemeral joy, lasting but a day. Synonyms:  fleeting,transitory, transient, evanescent. Antonym: eternal

EPICUREAN (noun): A person devoted to luxurious living and pleasure - an epicurean, seekingto enjoy every meal. (adj.): Pleasure-loving - His entire existence demonstrated his epicureantastes.

EPIGRAM: A brief pointed saying - a speech full of original epigrams. Synonyms:  maximproverb, adage.

EPITAPH: A tombstone inscription - an epitaph engraved on marble.EPITHET: A phrase that describes a quality (good or bad) in a person or thing - "Glaring" erroris a commonly used epithet. Synonyms:  characterization , appellationEQUANIMITY (adj.: EQUABLE): Evenness of temper or mind - suffered his cruel fate withequanimity. Synonyms:  serenity, composure, imperturbability, aplomb.

ERR (noun: ERRATUM): To be mistaken or go astray - To err is human, to forgive divine.Synonyms:  stray, blunder.

ERRATIC: Irresponsible, eccentric; lacking a fixed purpose erratic behavior, reflecting hisqueer ideas.ERUDITE: Learned - an erudite person, an editor of many books. Synonyms:  scholarly,knowing.ESOTERIC: Understood by only a select few - an esoteric subject, discussed only by scholars.Synonyms:  abstruse, recondite.

EXCEPTIONABLE: Objectionable - exceptionable behavior, universally criticized. Synonyms: questionable, reprehensible, censurable. Antonym: laudable.

EXCULPATE: To free from blame - exculpated by a jury. Synonyms:  vindicate, exonerate,absolve, acquit. Antonyms:  arraign, indict, inculpate.

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EXEMPLARY (noun: EXEMPLAR): Serving as a model; commendable - exemplary conductapproved by all. Synonyms:  illustrative, typical; praiseworthy, laudable.

EXODUS: Departure, emigration - the pathetic exodus of refugees from their homeland.

EXOTIC: Strange and foreign - an exotic costume imported from Asia.

EXPATIATE: To speak or write at great length - He expatiated on the subject for two hours.Synonym: dilate.

EXPATRIATE (verb): To banish or exile; to withdraw from one's country - expatriated fortreachery to his country. (noun): An expatriated person - expatriates who left the UnitedStates to live in Paris.

EXPEDIENT (adj.): Convenient in helping to attain some purpose - found it expedient tomaintain silence at that moment. Synonyms:  opportune, seasonable. (noun): A means toaccomplish something - tried all expedients to achieve a quick result.

EXPLOIT (verb): To use for one's selfish purpose – refugees exploited by unscrupulousemployers. (noun): A brilliant deed - lauded for his exploits in science. Synonym: feat.

EXPOUND (noun: EXPOSITION): To set forth in detail; to explain - expounded his theory in alearned article.

EXPURGATE: To purify (usually a piece of writing) of offensive material - expurgate allobscenities before the book could be sold. Synonyms:  purge, delete.

EXTEMPORANEOUS: Done or spoken on the spur of the moment or without preparation - anextemporaneous speech. Synonyms:  impromptu, offhand.

EXTINCT: No longer existing or active - the extinct dinosaur, alive only in history. Synonym:defunct. Antonym: extant.

EXTIRPATE: To root out, destroy totally - extirpated the cause of trouble. Synonyms: eradicate, exterminate, efface, obliterate.

EXTRANEOUS. Not essential; foreign; irrelevant - excluded material extraneous to the subject.Synonyms:  extrinsic, adventitious. Antonyms:  germane, intrinsic, inherent, relevant,pertinent.

EXULTATION: Great rejoicing - received the good news with exultation. Synonym: jubilation.

FACADE: Front or face, especially of a building - a facade of marble.

FACETIOUS: Given to joking or inappropriate gaiety; said in fun - brightened the evening withhis facetious remarks. Synonyms:  jocose, droll, flippant, frivolous. Antonyms:  solemn, grave,saturnine.

FALLACIOUS (noun: FALLACY): Unsound; misleading; deceptive - led astray by fallacious

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reasoning and plans.

FALLIBLE: Liable to make mistakes or be deceived - Being human, Tom was naturally fallible.Antonyms:  infallible, unerring.

FATHOM: To penetrate and understand - difficult to fathom his mysterious actions.

FATUOUS: Foolish; silly - a fatuous suggestion that struck us as stupid. Synonyms:  inane,vacuous, puerile. Antonyms:  judicious, sagacious, sage.

FEALTY: Faithfulness - The soldiers were pledged to fealty to their ruler. Synonyms: allegiance, constancy, fidelity. Antonyms:  disloyalty, infidelity, treachery.

FEASIBLE: Workable - a feasible plan, proved practical by - previous experience. Antonym:impracticable.

FEIGN (noun: FEINT): To pretend - He feigned to be angry, but we saw through his pretense.Synonyms:  dissemble, sham, dissimulate, affect.

FELICITY (adj.: FELICITOUS): (1) A state of happiness - promoted felicity in the nation.Synonym: bliss. (2) A high ability - lie has a felicity of language, mastery of the well-chosenphrase.

FERVID: Spirited; ardent - a fervid debater, full of emotion. Synonyms:  perfervid,impassioned, zealous, fervent, vehement.

FESTOON (noun): A garland of flowers, leaves, etc. hung between two points - the room brightwith festoons of Thanksgiving decorations. (verb): To hang with festoons - a room festoonedwith spring flowers.

FETISH: (1) Something that is believed to have magical powers - savages worshipping thefetish in a ceremonial dance. Synonym: charm, talisman, amulet. (2) An object of unreasoningdevotion and worship – Photography, begun as a hobby, became a fetish.

FIASCO: A ludicrous and complete failure - all his glorious plans ending in a fiasco. Synonym:debacle.

FICTITIOUS: Unreal; made-up - used a fictitious name to avoid being recognized. Synonym:fabricated. 

FLACCID: Lacking firmness - muscles grown flaccid after the illness. Synonyms: flabby, limp.

FLAGRANT: Outstandingly bad - condemned for his flagrant abuse of power. Synonyms: glaring, scandalous, notorious, conspicuous, gross.

FLAMBOYANT: Elaborately showy - written in a flamboyant, style, full of highly decorativeimagery. Synonyms:  florid, ornate, resplendent, embellished, garish, gaudy, gorgeous, rococo.Antonym: somber.

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FLAUNT: Display or wave boastfully - flaunted the excellent report before his delightedparents.

FLEETING: Passing swiftly -the fleeting hours of happiness. Synonyms:  transitory, fugitive.

FLUCTUATE: To waver from one course to another; to vary irregularly - his mood fluctuatingwith every hour. Synonyms:  oscillate, vacillate, undulate, sway.

FORBEAR (noun: FORBEARANCE): To exercise self control; to keep from - forbearing to shootthe animal despite temptation. Synonyms:  restrain, abstain.

FORENSIC: Pertaining to public discussion or law courts - a lawyer gifted in forensic debate.Synonyms:  rhetorical, oratorical.

FORTUITOUS: Accidental - a fortuitous meeting with a friend in need. Synonyms:  casual,incidental, adventitious, random.

FRACAS: A disorderly quarrel - A fracas broke up the meeting. Synonyms:  brawl, altercation,fray, wrangle, imbroglio.

FRUSTRATE: To prevent (the attainment of an object); to defeat or render ineffectual - Hisscholastic progress was frustrated by a serious illness. Synonyms:  balk, thwart, foil, baffle,obstruct, discomfit. Antonym: abet.

FULSOME: Disgustingly excessive - nauseated by fulsome praise.

GARNISH: To trim or decorate - dishes garnished attractively with greens. Synonyms:  adorn,deck.

GENEALOGY: A record of a person's or a family's ancestors or relatives - an interestinggenealogy, including saints and sinners. Synonym: lineage.

GENESIS: Origin - chemistry, which had its genesis in alchemy. Synonym: inception.

GESTICULATE: To make gestures, or indicate feelings by. motions - gesticulated wildly toshow his distress.

GHASTLY: Horrible, deathlike - a ghastly disaster which shocked the world. Synonyms: gruesome, grisly, pallid, macabre, grim, lurid.

GIBE (variant spelling: JIBE): To laugh at; to utter with scorn - gibed at his enemy mercilessly.Synonyms:  mock, sneer, jeer, scoff, flout, deride (adj.: derisive), rail, taunt.

GLIB: Smooth-spoken, fluent - a glib liar, distorting the truth effortlessly.

GLUTTONOUS (noun. GLUTTON; verb: GLUT): Inclined to cat to excess - gulped down his foodin gluttonous fashion. Synonyms: voracious, intemperate.

GOSSAMER (noun): A very thin gauzelike fabric or structure - a poem so delicate that it

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seemed an unreal gossamer. (adj.): Thin and light - the gossamer wings of a dragon fly.Synonyms:  diaphanous, flimsy, gauzelike Antonyms:  substantial, ponderous.

GREGARIOUS: Habitually fond of associating in a company or herd - gregarious sheep; thatgregarious animal, man. Antonyms: lone, aloof.

GRIMACE: A distortion of the face to express an attitude or feeling - a grimace that was moreexpressive than words.

HAIL: To greet - The crowd hailed the returning hero. Synonyms:  accost, salute.

HARANGUE (verb): To deliver a long. noisy speech- harangued the multitude. Synonyms: rant,declaim. (noun): A loud, tiresome speech - an empty harangue which bored his audience.Synonym: tirade.

HARBINGER, A forerunner; ail announcer - the robin, harbinger of spring. Synonyms:precursor, herald.

HAUGHTY: Proud; looking down with contempt on others - dismissed the messenger in ahaughty manner.

HEEDLESS: Thoughtless; taking little care - rushed into battle, heedless of the danger.Synonyms: inadvertent, rash, incautious. Antonyms: prudent, circumspect, mindful, wary.

HEINOUS: Wicked; hateful - committed a heinous crime. Synonyms:  atrocious, outrageous,monstrous, odious, nefarious, abominable.

HERESY: An opinion held in opposition to the traditional view - a view condemned as heresy.Synonym: heterodoxy. Antonym: orthodoxy.

HIATUS: A gap or vacancy; break -left a hiatus on the page where he erased a sentence.Synonym: breach.

HISTRIONIC: Pertaining to the theater; designed for show - broke into histrionic laughter,hollow and insincere. Synonyms:  dramatic, theatrical.

HOAX (noun): A trick or deception; a practical joke - played a hoax upon the credulous public.Synonym: canard. (verb): To play a trick on; to deceive - He hoaxed the crowd completely withhis disguise.

HOMONYM: Two words having the same sound but different meanings - confusing suchhomonyms as mail add male.

HOVEL: A dirty or wretched dwelling - born in a hovel, died in a mansion.

HYPERBOLE: Extravagant exaggeration for effect - An example of hyperbole: "There are amillion objections to the project." Synonym: overstatement. Antonym: understatement.

HYPOTHESIS: An assumption made for the sake of argument - worked from a fantastic

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hypothesis. Synonym: supposition.

IDIOSYNCRASY: A. personal peculiarity - Wearing white was one of Whistler's idiosyncrasies.Synonyms:  eccentricity, foible, mannerism, crotchet, aberration, quirk, singularity.

IGNOMINIOUS (noun: IGNOMINY): Incurring public disgrace - suffered an ignominiousdescent from political power. Synonyms:  infamous, degrading, opprobrious, odious.Antonyms: illustrious, renowned, preeminent.

IMMACULATE: Spotless; pure - an immaculate reputation. Synonyms:  undefiled, unsullied,

unblemished, untarnished. Antonyms: defiled, sullied, blemished.

IMMINENT: Likely to occur soon - stood in imminent peril. Synonym: impending. 

IMMUNE (verb: IMMUNIZE): Exempt from; protected from - immune from taxation. Synonym:unsusceptible.

IMPALE: To pierce through with a pointed instrument - impaled a spider to the wall.

IMPEACH: (1) To accuse (a public official) of wrongdoing - impeached the judge for acceptinga bribe. Synonym: arraign. (2) To cast discredit upon - impeached his motives. Synonyms: callin question, discredit.

IMPECCABLE: Faultless - performed with impeccable skill. Synonyms:  consummate,irreproachable, unerring, infallible. Antonyms:  culpable, fallible.

IMPERVIOUS: Incapable of being penetrated - a mind impervious to new ideas. Synonyms:impermeable, impenetrable. Antonyms: permeable, pervasive.

IMPLACABLE: Incapable of being soothed, made peaceful, or forgiving - implacableresentment. Synonyms: unrelenting, inexorable, unappeasable. Antonyms: placable,forbearing.

IMPLICIT: (1) Implied but not clearly expressed - an implicit agreement. (2) Unquestioning -implicit confidence. Synonyms: tacit, implied. Antonym: explicit.

IMPORT (noun): Meaning; significance or importance - a matter of great import. Synonyms:purport, moment, consequence.

IMPOSTOR (noun: IMPOSTURE): One who pretends to be what he is not unmasked as animpostor. Synonyms:  quack, mountebank, charlatan, bogus, fraud.

IMPRECATION: A curse - hurled imprecations at those who would not listen to him.Synonyms:  execration, malediction, anathema. Antonyms:  benediction, benison.

IMPREGNABLE: Unconquerable - an impregnable fortress. Synonym: invincible. Antonym:vulnerable.

IMPROPRIETY: Improper act, manners, or expression - guilty of impropriety in public office.

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Synonyms:  indecency, indecorum. Antonym: amenity.

IMPROVIDENT: Lacking in thrift; not providing for future needs - an improvident spender.Synonyms:  prodigal, shiftless. 

IMPUGN: To attack or criticize as false; to call in question - impugned his honesty.

INCARCERATE: To imprison - crushed his opponents by incarcerating them. Synonyms:intern, immure. Antonyms: emancipate, enfranchise.

INCISIVE: Cutting, penetrating - incisive criticism. Synonyms:  sarcastic, mordant, trenchant,acute.

INCOGNITO. With one's identity concealed - traveled incognito.

INCONTROVERTIBLE: Indisputable - incontrovertible evidence. Synonyms:  irrefutable,indubitable.

INCREMENT: An increase - a salary increment. Synonym: accrual.

INCUMBENT (noun): An officeholder - the incumbent in an election. (adj.): Obligatory - felt itincumbent to reply. Synonyms: mandatory, imperative.

INDEFATIGABLE: Untiring - an indefatigable worker. Synonyms: unflagging, unremitting,persevering. 

INDIGENOUS: Native - Rice is indigenous to China. Synonyms: innate, inborn.

INDOOMITABLE: Stubborn in determination not to be subdued - indomitable courage.Synonyms: insuperable, irrepressible, invincible, unyielding. Antonyms: tractable, amenable,docile, submissive.

INFERENCE: A conclusion reached by reasoning from data or premises - an inference drawnfrom his remarks. Synonyms: deduction, implication.

INGENIOUS: Demonstrating originality, skill, or resourcefulness - an ingenious device.Synonyms: dextrous, inventive, adroit. Antonyms: maladroit, gauche.

INGENUOUS: Simple and straightforward; concealing nothing - an ingenuous plan that anyonecould see through. Synonyms:  unsophisticated, naive, candid. Antonym: sophisticated.

INGRATIATE: To win another's favor or good opinion tried to ingratiate himself with thepolitician.

INHIBIT: To check or hinder - inhibited his friend from a foolhardy course. Synonyms:restrain, curb. Antonym: promote.

INNOCUOUS: Harmless; inoffensive - an innocuous remark, but it enraged him.

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INNUENDO: An indirect reference or suggestion (frequently derogatory) - conveyed his ideaby innuendo. Synonyms:  (verb) intimate, insinuate.

INORDINATE: Excessive - spoiled by inordinate praise. Synonyms:  immoderate, intemperate,extravagant.

INSATIABLE: Unable to be satisfied - insatiable greed. Synonyms. unappeasable,unquenchable, insatiate. 

INSCRUTABLE: Incapable of interpretation or understanding - the inscrutable smile of theMona Lisa. Synonyms:  unfathomable, cryptic, enigmatic.

INSIDIOUS: Working secretly or slyly - that insidious disease, cancer. Synonyms:  wily, crafty,furtive, treacherous, artful, guileful perfidious.

INSTIGATE: To stir tip - instigated discontent among the soldiers. Synonyms:  foment, incite.

INTEGRITY: Honesty, moral soundness - a man of proved integrity. Synonyms:  probity,uprightness, incorruptibility.

INVEIGH (noun-. INVECTIVE): To speak angrily or bitterly-inveighed against economicdiscrimination. Synonyms:  rail, denounce, fulminate, vituperate.

IRASCIBLE: Easily angered - Even petty things made Peter irascible. Synonyms: choleric,petulant, testy, peevish, splenetic, touchy. Antonyms: placid, equable.

IRE: Anger -aroused his ire. Synonyms:  resentment; (adj.) irate, incensed.

IRKSOME: Tedious, monotonous - an irksome chore that no one liked.

ITINERANT: Traveling about; wandering - an itinerant salesman. Synonym: nomadic.

JARGON: Confused, unintelligible, meaningless talk; special vocabulary used only by membersof a group or trade - Variety, a newspaper written in theatrical jargon. Synonyms:  gibberish,argot, cant.

JAUNTY: Having an air of easy carelessness or liveliness - walked with a jaunty step.Synonyms: sprightly, airy, gay, nonchalant, debonair. Antonyms: somber, staid.

JEOPARDY: Danger - His life was in jeopardy. Synonyms: hazard, peril.JETTISON: To throw overboard (as cargo); to throw off (as a burden or something in the way)- jettisoned their old candidate as a political liability.

JUDICIOUS: Wise; using or exhibiting good judgment - a well-chosen plan, termed judicious byall. Synonyms: discreet, politic, discerning.

KALEIDOSCOPIC: Constantly changing or varying in pattern or scenes - kaleidoscopic views ofNew York.

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KEN: Range of sight or understanding - something beyond our ken. Synonym: insight.

LABYRINTH (adj.: LABYRINTHINE): A structure or intricate passage out of which it is difficultto find one's way (also applied to spiritual and intellectual complexities) - confused by alabyrinth of intellectual discussions. Synonym: maze.

LACHRYMOSE: Causing or given to shedding tears - a lachrymose tragedy.

LACONIC: Saying much in few words - a laconic reply that spoke volumes. Synonyms: concise,pithy, terse, succinct, taciturn, reticent. Antonyms: verbose, prolix, redundant, diffuse,tautological, turgid, garrulous, voluble.

LARCENY: Theft - indicted for grand larceny.

LATENT: Hidden; present but not fully developed - latent talent that time will reveal.Synonyms: dormant, quiescent, covert, potential. Antonyms: apparent, patent.

LAVISH: (1) Profuse or generous - lavish in praise. Synonyms:  ample, superabundant. (2)Given to extravagance - a lavish spender. Synonyms: prodigal, munificent, magnanimous.Antonyms: parsimonious, niggardly, frugal, penurious.

LETHAL: Deadly - a lethal weapon. Synonyms:  mortal, fatal.

LONGEVITY: Prolonged duration of life - a country remarkable for the longevity of itsinhabitants.

LOW: To bellow softly like cattle - the lowing herd in the meadow. Synonym: moo.

LUCID: Clear; transparent; easily understood - a lucid explanation of a difficult text.Synonyms:  pellucid, perspicuous, intelligible, limpid, luminous, translucent. Antonyms: abstruse, obscure.

LUDICROUS: Ridiculous; producing laughter - a ludicrous remark that set them all to roaring.Synonyms:  mirthful, droll, comical, absurd. Antonyms:  doleful, lugubrious, dismal.

LUMINARY: An eminent person; a celestial body - the platform graced by a number ofluminaries.

MACHIAVELLIAN: Sacrificing moral principles in order to attain power; politically cunning;crafty - a machiavellian design, wickedly contrived. Synonym: unscrupulous.

MALICIOUS (noun: MALICE): Bearing, or acting with, deliberate ill-will or spite - hurting withmalicious intent. Synonyms: rancorous, malignant, malevolent, virulent, vindictive. Antonym:

benign.

MASQUERADE (verb): To assume a deceptive appearance or character - a thief masqueradingas an honest man. Synonyms:  dissemble, feign. (noun): A disguise; a group of people indisguise or fancy costumes - a masquerade so perfect no one could guess his identity.

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MAUDLIN: Sentimental to the point of tears - turned maudlin at the mention of his lost dog.Synonym: mawkish, lachrymose.

MEANDER: To walk about (or talk) aimlessly; to wind about (as a stream) - meanderedthrough the town, looking into shop windows. Synonym: ramble.

MEDIOCRE: Average in quality - a mediocre performance, unworthy of his talents.

MERCENARY: Acting solely from a consideration of reward or profit - actuated by amercenary motive. Synonym: venal.

MERETRICIOUS: Attracting in a false, cheap, or showy manner- a meretricious beauty that istoo flashy to be real. Synonyms: tawdry, specious.

METICULOUS: Fussy about minute details - took meticulous pains with his composition.Synonyms: fastidious, punctilious, overscrupulous, finical, methodical. Antonyms: desultory,perfunctory, slovenly.

METTLE (adj.: METTLESOME: high-spirited ): Disposition; spirit; courage - His mettle wastried in battle. Idiom: to be on one's mettle (meaning, “ready to do one's best”). Synonyms:temperament, ardor.

MICROCOSM: A little world, or a universe in miniature this village, a microcosm of the greatoutside world. Antonym macrocosm (world on a large scale).

MIMIC: To make fun of or copy by imitating - mimicked the comedian's gestures.

MISANTHROPIC (noun: MISANTHROPE): Hating or distrusting mankind - condemned for hismisanthropic views. Antonyms:  philanthropic, altruistic.

MISNOMER: A name or term that describes wrongly - To call him a brave man is really amisnomer.

MONOLOGUE: A speech by one person - The actor gave his views in a dramatic monologue.Synonym: soliloquy. Antonyms: colloquy (adj. colloquial): conversation between two or morepersons; dialogue: conversation between two persons.

MOROSE: Gloomy; ill-humored - shunned because of his morose temper. Synonyms:  sulky,

crabbed, sullen, splenetic, saturnine. Antonyms:  blithe, genial.

MOTLEY: Of various colors; of mixed ingredients - a motley costume; a motley crowd.Synonyms:  checkered (referring to a varied career), piebald, variegated, diverse,heterogeneous. Antonym: homogeneous.

MOTTLED: Spotted or streaked with varied colors - a mottled pony. Synonyms: blotched,dappled.

MUNDANE: Of, or pertaining to, the world, as contrasted with the spirit - mundane affairs.

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Synonyms: earthly, terrestrial, secular, temporal.

MURKY: Dark; cloudy - a murky cavern. Synonyms: dismal, tenebrous, fuliginous. Antonyms:resplendent, glowing, lustrous, luminous, fulgent, coruscating.

MUTABLE: Given to frequent change in nature, mood, or form - mutable in mood as a springwind. Synonyms: vacillating, fickle, inconstant, fitful, mercurial, wavering, capricious.Antonyms: constant, steady.

MYRIAD: Innumerable - the myriad stars in the heavens.

NAUTICAL: Pertaining to ships or navigation - a nautical career. Synonyms: marine, naval,maritime.

NETTLE: To irritate or provoke - nettled by his critics. Synonyms: vex, pique, goad.

NOCTURNAL: Pertaining to, or occurring in, the night - awakened by the sounds of a nocturnalprowler. Antonym: diurnal.

NOISOME: Foul-smelling; harmful-the swamp gave off a noisome odor. Synonyms:malodorous, fetid, disgusting; noxious, deleterious. Antonym: salubrious.

NONCHALANT: Unmoved or indifferent; casual - reacted to the news in a nonchalant manner.Synonym: apathetic. Antonyms:  enthusiastic, zealous.

NOSTALGIA: Homesickness - felt nostalgia for the old homestead.

NOTORIOUS: Widely known (in a bad sense) - a notorious gambler.

NOVICE: A beginner - conducted himself in politics like a novice. Synonyms: tyro, neophyte.Antonym: virtuoso.

OBDURATE: Hard-hearted; stubborn - an obdurate, unrepentant criminal. Synonyms:adamant, unyielding, inflexible. Antonyms: submissive, docile, compliant.

OBLIVIOUS (noun: OBLIVION): Forgetful; absent-minded - walking oblivious of hissurroundings. Synonyms: unmindful, heedless, abstracted. 

OBSESSION: A persistent feeling, idea, activity, etc., which dominates a person; the state ofbeing exclusively preoccupied by a fixed idea - Now that he has learned bowling, it hasbecome his obsession. Synonyms: mania, infatuation (a foolish passion), monomania.

OBSOLETE: No longer in use - an obsolete word, not even included by most dictionaries.Synonyms: archaic, antiquated.

OBTRUSIVE (verb: OBTRUDE): Thrusting oneself or itself into undue prominence - madehimself obnoxiously obtrusive. Synonyms: intrusive, aggressive.

OBVIATE: To prevent, dispose of, or make unnecessary by appropriate actions - an act which

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obviated all objections. Synonyms: preclude, forestall.

OMNIPOTENT: All-powerful - an omnipotent despot.

ONUS: Burden; duty; obligation - bore the onus of his difficult office creditably.

OSTENSIBLE: Apparent; pretended - his ostensible, though not actual, purpose. Synonyms:professed, plausible (that is, appearing true, reasonable, or fair), specious.

OSTRACIZE: To banish; to exclude from public favor or privileges - a former premierostracized by popular vote. Synonym: outlaw.

PANACEA: A remedy for all ills - seeking a panacea to cure our social troubles. Synonym:nostrum.

PANEGYRIC: A speech or writing of extravagant praise - delivered a panegyric at his friend'stestimonial dinner. Synonyms: eulogy, adulation, tribute, laudation (adj. laudatory),encomium. Antonyms: censure, disparagement, derogation, castigation, depreciation.

PARADOX: A self -contradictory statement; something 'that appears to be absurd and yet maybe true -"Life is too important a matter to he taken seriously." - a paradox by Oscar Wilde.Synonym: anomaly.

PARAPHRASE: To restate the meaning of a passage in other words - paraphrased the poem ina few lines of prose. 

PARODY (noun): A humorous imitation of an author's style and mannerisms - wrote a parodyon Kipling's "Gunga Din."  Synonym: burlesque. (verb): To write a parody - parodied thepopular authors of the (lay to his audience's amusement. Synonym: Mimic.

PECCADILLO: A petty fault-possesses one peccadillo among his many virtues. Synonyms:frailty, foible, flaw, blemish.

PECUNIARY: Pertaining to money - involved in pecuniary difficulties. Synonyms; financial,fiscal, monetary.

PEDANT (adj.: PEDANTIC): One who proudly shows off his learning or who overrates hisknowledge - like a pedant glorying in his scholarly trifles.

PENSIVE: Sadly thoughtful - softly sang his pensive song. Synonyms:  reflective, meditative,contemplative, musing.

PEREMPTORY: Positive in expressing an opinion - gave a peremptory judgment. Synonyms:decisive, resolute, imperious, positive, dogmatic. Antonyms: indecisive, tentative.

PERTINACIOUS: Clinging doggedly to an opinion or purpose - pertinacious in his efforts.Synonyms: obdurate, tenacious, persistent, persevering, intractable, inflexible.

PERUSE: To read carefully - perused the important letter.

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PERVERSE: Willfully bent on doing the wrong thing - a perverse lad, always disobeying hisparents. Synonyms: headstrong, froward, refractory, wayward, fractious.

PETRIFY: To paralyze with horror, fear, or surprise - petrified by the enemy bombardment.Synonyms: stupefy, stun, bewilder, amaze.

PLAGIARISM. Adopting and reproducing, without acknowledgment, the writings or ideas ofanother and passing them off as one's own - denied the charge of deliberate plagiarism.

PLATITUDE: A dull and commonplace remark - bored people by his pompous phrases andplatitudes. Synonyms: bromide, truism, axiom.

PLEBEIAN: Pertaining to the common people; hence, common or vulgar - plebeian in his tastesand outlook. Antonyms: patrician, aristocratic.

PLEBISCITE. A direct vote by the people - The decision to confederate was ratified byplebiscite.

POIGNANT: (1) Gripping and moving the feelings powerfully - a poignant grief. (2) Piercing,biting, pointed - a poignant cry; poignant wit.

PONDEROUS: Very heavy; clumsy; dull - a ponderous speech, extremely boring.

PRECARIOUS: Uncertain or risky - earning a precarious livelihood, providing no luxuries.

PRECIPITOUS: (1) Very steep - a precipitous cliff. (2) Descending rapidly - a precipitousdecline in popularity.

PRELUDE: An introduction, forerunner, or preliminary step - a short prelude to the play.Synonyms: preface, prologue, preamble. Antonym: epilogue.

PREROGATIVE: A privilege or power attaching to a position - It is a woman's prerogative torefuse to tell her age. Synonym: license.

PRESTIGE: Esteem or influence accorded for recognized achievements or reputation - AsSenator he enjoyed great prestige. Synonym: distinction.

PRESUMPTION: (1) Something taken for granted - acted on a reasonable presumption. (2)Going beyond proper bounds; impudent boldness - His question was downright presumption.Synonyms:  effrontery, forwardness, arrogance.

PREVARICATE: To disguise or conceal the truth to lie - prevaricated in order to avoiddetection. Synonyms:  quibble, equivocate; (adj.) mendacious. Antonyms:  (noun) veracity,verity; (adj.) forthright.

PROCRASTINATE: To postpone or put off to another time - missed his opportunity byprocrastinating too long. Synonyms: defer, delay.

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PROGNOSTICATE (noun: PROGNOSIS): To forecast - The Weather Bureau prognosticatesdaily. Synonyms: presage, portend, augur, forebode.

PROLETARIAT: The wage-earning class - a truckman, humble member of the proletariat.

PROMONTORY: A cliff - an imposing promontory along the coast. Synonyms: headland,precipice.

PROMULGATE: To publish or proclaim; to spread abroad The President promulgated a decree.Synonym: disseminate.

PROTUBERANT: Bulging or swelling out - a protuberant jaw. Antonyms: receding, recessive.

PROVISIONAL: Temporary; for the time being - a provisional plan until a permanent decisionis reached. Synonym: tentative.

PROXIMITY: Nearness-worked in close proximity to his home. Synonyms: propinquity,vicinity. Antonym remoteness.

PSEUDONYM: A false name assumed by a writer - concealed his identity by a pseudonym.Synonyms: alias, pen name, nom de plume.

PUNITIVE: Inflicting, or concerned with, punishment - took punitive measures againstdeserters.

QUASH: To crush; to render void - quashed a rebellion; quashed an indictment. Synonyms:suppress, extinguish, quell; annul.

QUERULOUS: Given to fault-finding and complaining - Her querulous nature estranged manypeople. Synonyms: fretful, whining, captious, carping, peevish, petulant. Antonym: affable.

QUIXOTIC: Extravagantly romantic or idealistic; highly impractical - a quixotic scheme thatcan never materialize. Synonyms: utopian, visionary, fantastic.

RACONTEUR: A skilled storyteller - held spellbound by a superb raconteur.

RADICAL (noun): One who advocates extreme basic changes - The reform movement was ledby a radical. (adj.): Thorough, extreme - radical measures adopted to meet the emergency.Antonym (noun and adj.): conservative.

RAMIFICATION: A branching; sub-division - studied the subject in all its ramifications.

RAZE: To tear down completely- razed the old building. Synonyms: level. Antonym: rear.

RECAPITULATE: To restate in a brief, concise form; to sum up - recapitulated the main ideas.

RECIPROCAL: Mutual; done in return for something received - held each other in reciprocalesteem.

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RECUMBENT: Lying down; leaning back or down - resting in a recumbent position.

REDOLENT: (1) Fragrant - a room redolent of roses. Synonym: aromatic. (2) Reminiscent of -redolent of olden times.

REDOUBTABLE: Commanding fear or respect - cringing before a redoubtable enemy.Synonym: formidable.

REFUTE: To prove incorrect or false-refuted his opponent's argument. Synonyms: rebut,confute. Antonyms: substantiate, confirm, corroborate.

REITERATE: Repeat (several times) - reiterated his story once more.

REMUNERATIVE: Profitable - a remunerative job. Synonyms: lucrative, gainful.

RENEGADE: One who forsakes political or party principles or his religious faith - a renegadefrom his former allegiance. Synonyms: turncoat, apostate, recreant, traitor.

REPRISAL: Injury inflicted in turn for one received - took action in reprisal against hisneighbor. Synonym: retaliation.

RESENTMENT: Feeling of displeasure or indignation resulting from mistreatment or abuse -showed resentment at what he considered an unwarranted insult. Synonyms: umbrage,dudgeon, animosity.

RESILIENT: Elastic; light-hearted; possessing power of recovery - a resilient Spirit, refusing toadmit defeat. Synonyms: flexible, pliable, supple, limber.

RESPITE: (1) Temporary deferment or cessation of work or pain - a brief respite from labor.Synonym: surcease. (2) A temporary delay in the execution of -a sentence - granted the doomman a temporary respite. Synonym: reprieve.

RETRIBUTION: The reward or punishment exacted for an injury, wickedness, or other action -suffered just retribution for his folly. Synonyms: requital, nemesis.

RETRIEVE: (1) To make good -retrieved a mistake. (2) To recover -retrieved the suitcase leftat the station. (3) To restore - retrieved his lost fortunes.

REVERBERATE: To echo - a shot reverberating through the valley. Synonym: resound.

RUDIMENTARY: In an early stage of development - possessing only a rudimentary, knowledgeof physics. Synonym: incipient.RUE (adj.: RUEFUL): To be sorry for-He will rue the day he left home. Synonyms: regret,repent.

SACROSANCT: Very holy - a shrine. regarded as sacrosanct. Synonyms:  consecrated,inviolable, hallowed.

SAGACIOUS (noun: SAGACITY): Wise; shrewd - proved to be sagacious in his judgment.

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Synonyms: perspicacious, astute, sapient, discerning, sage.

SALLOW: Sick - a sallow complexion. Synonym: pallid. Antonyms: rubicund, ruddy, florid.

SALLY: (verb): To rush forth suddenly - sallied out to meet the enemy. (noun): A Witty remark- amused the audience with his sallies against his opponent. Synonyms:  quip, banter.

SANCTIMONIOUS: Pretending to be religious - showed his hypocrisy in a sanctimoniousdisplay of piety.

SANGUINARY: Bloody - a sanguinary battle. Synonym: gory.

SANGUINE: Of a hopeful disposition; blood-red in color - a perennial optimist, sanguine intemperament. Synonyms: buoyant, ardent.

SARTORIAL: Pertaining to a tailor or clothes - a picture of sartorial perfection.

SATELLITE: (1) An attentive or flattering follower - a prince surrounded by many satellites.Synonyms:  lackey, toady, disciple, adherent; adj., fawning, obsequious, partisan. (2) A countryinfluenced or controlled by another - Freedom is conspicuously absent ,in the Soviet satellites.(3) A body (natural or artificial) which revolves around a larger body, generally a planet - Themoon is the only natural satellite of the earth, but in recent years it has been joined by manyartificial satellites.

SCINTILLA: A trace; a particle - not a scintilla of convincing evidence. Synonyms: iota; vestige.

SCOURGE (verb): To punish severely; to afflict; to whip - a disease that scourged the country.Synonyms: excoriate, flay. (noun). A whip or other means of punishment; a cause of affliction -The Black Plague was a dreadful scourge of the Middle Ages. Synonym: tribulation.

SCRUTINIZE: To examine carefully -scrutinized the contents of the letter.

SHIBBOLETH: A party slogan - a shibboleth designed to attract votes.

SIMPER (verb): To smile in a silly or affected way simpered as he greeted each guest. (noun):An affected or silly smile - stood nervously, a simper on his face. Synonym: (verb and noun)smirk.

SINECURE: Employment entailing little or no responsibility or labor - His job was a sinecure.

SINISTER: Threatening or showing evil; dishonest - the sinister look of a gangster.

SLEAZY: Flimsy and cheap - sleazy cloth which is used only in cheap garments. Synonym:unsubstantial.

SLOVENLY: Untidy-severely criticized the student's slovenly appearance. Synonyms: slipshod,slatternly, frowzy.

SOPORIFIC: Tending to induce sleep - a poorly written novel, soporific in effect.

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SORDID: Mean and base; filthy - Sordid motives breed selfish actions. Synonyms: degraded,vile, ignoble.

SOVEREIGN: Supreme m power and authority; independent of the control of any other

government - possessing sovereign powers; a sovereign state. Synonyms: autonomous,imperial, majestic, paramount.

SPORADIC: Occurring singly, at irregular intervals; scattered - sporadic cases of illness.

SPURN: To refuse or reject with contempt - an offer that was spurned instantly. Synonyms:repel, snub.

STOIC: Indifferent, calm in bearing pain or pleasure; practising remarkable self-control overemotions - maintained a stoic attitude despite all his trials. Synonyms: stolid, impassive.

STRINGENT: Strict; compelling, constraining stringent regulations; stringent requirements.Synonyms: exacting, rigid. Antonym: lax.

STUPENDOUS: Amazing by, virtue of its immense size, force, or any quality in exceptionaldegree - The circus is a stupendous spectacle. Synonyms:  astounding, prodigious, monstrous,marvelous, colossal, awful.

SUCCULENT: juicy - a succulent steak. Antonyms: desiccated, vapid.

SULTRY: Close, hot, and moist - sultry tropical weather.

SUPINE: (1) Lying flat on the back - resting in a supine position. Antonym: erect. (2) Inert,inactive, averse to taking action - a supine, ineffective administrator. Synonyms: listless,torpid.

TANGIBLE: Real; actual - tangible gains which may be seen, and counted. Synonyms: material,veritable, perceptible, substantial.

TANTAMOUNT: Equivalent - an act that is tantamount to treason.

TAUNT (verb). To reproach with contempt - taunted him with the charge of failure to actpromptly. Synonyms: mock, twit, gibe, sneer, deride. (noun): An insulting, jeering, or bitterremark - hurled taunts at his foes.

TEEMING: In abundance, fertile, highly productive - the teeming tropics, rank with vegetation.Synonyms: swarming, fruitful, fecund, abounding.

TEMERITY: Unwise or reckless boldness - leaped into battle with thoughtless temerity.Synonyms: audacity, presumptuousness, effrontery, rashness; (adj.) temerarious, foolhardy,venturesome. Antonyms: prudence, circumspection, wariness.

TEMPORAL: Worldly, as opposed to spiritual; existing for a time only - a man preoccupiedwith temporal matters. Synonyms: mundane, secular, civil.

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TEMPORIZE: To delay or refuse to commit oneself in order to gain time - temporized while hisfriends hurried to his aid. Synonym: equivocate.

TENET: A principle of belief held as true - a tenet of religion which be maintained loyally.Synonyms: creed, doctrine, dogma.

TENUOUS: Slender; not substantial; of slight importance - clung desperately to his tenuoushope.

TRANQUIL: Calm; peaceful - a tranquil summer night. Synonyms: placid, serene. Antonyms:perturbed, ruffled, turbulent.

TRANSGRESS: To break a law or command; to violate a moral principle; to overstep a moralbound or limit - transgressed the bounds of decency; transgressed the law.

TREMULOUS: Trembling - tremulous with fright. Synonym: quivering.

TRIVIAL: Of little - importance - a trivial offense. Synonym: paltry. Antonyms: gross,momentous.

TRUCULENT (noun: TRUCULENCE): Cruel, fierce; harsh; threatening or intimidating savagely- a dispute marked by a truculent attitude on both sides.

TURGID: (1) Swollen, inflated - turgid rivers overflowing their banks. Synonyms: bloated,distended. (2) Using big or high-sounding words - a turgid prose style. Synonyms: pompous,bombastic, prolix.

UBIQUITOUS: Existing everywhere - The common cold is a ubiquitous complaint. Synonyms:omnipresent, universal.

UNTENABLE: Incapable of being defended or held - withdrew the argument as untenable.

UTILITARIAN (adj.): Materially or practically useful - beautiful, but not utilitarian.

VANQUISH: To subdue or conquer -an army vanquished with heavy losses. 

VAUNT: To boast - proudly vaunted his strength. Synonyms: brag (noun: braggadocio,braggart), proclaim.

VENEER: A superficial appearance or show designed to impress one with superiority - piercedbeneath his thin veneer of elegance. Synonym: gloss.

VENERABLE: Deserving respect or reverence because of age - a venerable leader.

VERNAL: Pertaining to spring-an array of vernal flowers. Antonym: hibernal (wintry).

VERSATILE: Able to do many things skillfully - versatile in all the arts.

VICARIOUS: Taking the place of another; felt, received, or done in place of another - tookvicarious pleasure in his brother's victory.

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VICISSITUDE: A change from one condition to another, often unexpected - suffered manyvicissitudes of fortune.

VIRAGO: A scolding or ill-tempered woman - My neighbor's wife is a virago. Synonyms: shrew,termagant, vixen.

VITUPERATE (noun: VITUPERATION; adj.: VITUPERATIVE): To scold or blame loudly, findfault with in abusive language - an angry man, vituperating the world. Synonyms: berate,revile.

WAIVE: To give up (privileges, etc.); to do without - waived his rights to the property.Synonyms: relinquish, forgo, forsake.

WHIM (adj.: WHIMSICAL): A sudden notion or passing fancy -frequently acted on the whim ofthe moment. Synonyms: caprice, vagary, crotchet.

WRITHE: To twist about (usually with pain) - writhed in agony on the floor. Synonyms:contort, squirm.

ZEALOUS (noun: ZEALOT: fanatic): Full of enthusiasm or eagerness -a zealous student, first inhis class. Antonym: perfunctory.

ZENITH: The highest point - the zenith of his career. Synonyms: acme, apex, culmination,Pair of Words Solved Pair of Words 2000 to 2013

From CSS Papers 2000 to 2013

Pair of Words from CSS year 2000

Need:Meaning: require (something) because it is essential or very important rather than just desirable:Sentence: I need your help now

Knead:Meaning: work (moistened flour or clay) into dough or paste with the hands or massage or squeeze with the hands.Sentence: She kneaded his back 

Queue:Meaning: a line of people, usually standing or in cars, waiting for somethingSentence: There was a long queue of traffic stretching down the road.

Cue: Meaning: a signal for someone to do somethingSentence: They started washing up, so that was our cue to leave the party.

Quarts:Meaning: a unit of liquid measure of capacity.Sentence: You spilled a quart of water on my table. 

Quartz:Meaning: a hard mineral consisting of silica, found widely in igneous and metamorphic rocks.Sentence: The rocks i have used contain some quartz, which may help to create the effect we want.

Choral:Meaning: of a chorus or a choir,Sentence: Choral singing became a matter of national pride.

Coral:Meaning: the hard, stony skeleton secreted by certain marine polyps.Sentence: What you will not find here are pristine corals.

Discrete:Meaning: separate and distinct. Sentence: These are discrete projects, and their funding records should be kept separate. 

Discreet:Meaning: careful and prudent in one’s speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential.  Sentence: Discreet silence over the matter.

Epic:

Meaning: An epic is a story or long poem telling the tale of a fictional or historical hero.Sentence: Epic tale that favors the bizarre.

Epoch:Meaning: a period of time considered in terms of noteworthy and characteristic events, developments, persons, etc

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Sentence: Epoch of the final decline of democracy.Libel:Meaning: Law a published false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation; a written defamation.Sentence: He was found guilty of a libel on a Liverpool inspector of taxes.

Liable:Meaning: legally bound or obligated, as to make good any loss or damage that occurs in a transaction; responsible.Sentence: Chief Officer should be vicariously liable for the actions of their officers.

Mail:Meaning: Postal material for a specific person or organization.Sentence:  I have send him a letter by air mail.

Male:Meaning: Characteristic of or appropriate to this sex; masculineSentence: The king had no male descendant.   Banned:Meaning: something that is prohibited.Sentence: The death penalty is banned in New York and New Jersey.

Band:Meaning: a group of people working together, particularly in the field of music.Sentence:  9 zero Band's new album, i remember being instantly impressed. 

Barred:Meaning: provided with one or more barsSentence: Barred owls roosting by the side of the road!

Bard:Meaning: an ancient person who composes and signs poems about heroes and epic events.Sentence: Bards of the time could recite, or chant, long epic poems.

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Pair of Words from CSS year 2001

Brooch: Meaning: a small piece of jewelry with a pin at the back that is fastened to a woman's clothesSentence: She wore a small silver brooch.

Broad:Meaning: very wideSentence: We walked down a broad avenue lined with trees.

Collision: Meaning: an accident that happens when two vehicles hit each other with forceSentence: There has been a collision on the southbound stretch of the motorway.

Collusion:Meaning: agreement between people to act together secretly or illegally in order to deceive or cheat someoneSentence: It is thought that they worked in collusion with the terrorist network.

Fain: Meaning: glad; readySentence: He is fain to do all things himself.

Feign:Meaning: to pretend to feel something, usually an emotionSentence: You know how everyone feigns surprise when you tell them how old you are.

Hoard: Meaning: to collect large amounts of something and keep it in a safe, often secret, placeSentence: During the siege people began hoarding food and supplies.

Horde:Meaning: a large group of peopleSentence: Hordes of students on bikes made crossing the road difficult.

Illusion: Meaning: an idea or belief which is not trueSentence: He had no illusions about his talents as a singer.

Delusion:Meaning: when someone believes something that is not trueSentence: He's under the delusion that he will be promoted this year.

Persecute: Meaning: to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or politicalbeliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them aloneSentence: Religious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime.

Prosecute:Meaning: to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that aperson accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crimeSentence: He was prosecuted for fraud.

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Prescribe: Meaning: to say what medical treatment someone should haveSentence: The drug is often prescribed for ulcers.

Proscribe:Meaning: to not allow somethingSentence: The Athletics Federation has banned the runner from future races for using proscribed drugs.

Respectfully: Meaning: in a way that shows you want to be polite or honor someoneSentence: As the body was carried through the crowd, people drew back respectfully.

Respectively:Meaning: relating or belonging to each of the separate people or things you have just mentionedSentence: In the 200 meters, Lizzy and Sarah came first and third respectively.

Complacent: Meaning: SatisfiedSentence: We can't afford to become complacent about any of our products.

Complaisant:Meaning: willing to please; affably agreeable; obliging Sentence: Can we really sit back and watch the suffering of a whole nation and be so complaisant?

Corporal:Meaning: of the human body; bodily; physical:Sentence: Nowadays it is not the custom to inflict corporal punishment in schools.

Corporeal:Meaning:  Of a material nature; tangible.Sentence: Corporeal need such as food and drink should receive due measure of attention.    

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Pair of Words from CSS year 2004

Auger: Meaning: a tool consisting of a twisted rod of metal fixed to a handle, used for making large holes in wood or in the

groundSentence: In order to measure the pH directly; the kit includes a plastic auger to perforate the ground.

Augur: Meaning: to be a sign of especially good or bad things in the futureSentence: Do you think that this recent ministerial announcement augurs a shift in government policy?

Fain: Meaning: glad; readySentence: He is fain to do all things himself.

Feign:Meaning: to pretend to feel something, usually an emotionSentence: You know how everyone feigns surprise when you tell them how old you are.

Emigrate: Meaning: to leave a country permanently and go to live in another oneSentence: Millions of Germans emigrated from Europe to America in the nineteenth century.

Immigrate: Meaning: to come to live in a different countrySentence: He immigrated with his parents in 1895, and grew up in London.

Envy: Meaning: to wish that you had something that another person hasSentence: I envy her ability to talk to people she's never met before.

Jealousy: Meaning: a feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something that you wantSentence: The team has performed very badly this season due to petty jealousies among the players.Invade: Meaning: to enter an area of activity in a forceful and noticeable waySentence: Concentrations of troops near the border look set to invade within the next few days.

Attack: Meaning: to try to hurt or defeat using violenceSentence: He was attacked and seriously injured by a gang of youths.

Trifling: Meaning: A trifling matter or amount of money is small or not importantSentence: It was such a trifling sum of money to argue about!

Trivial: Meaning: having little value or importance

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Sentence: I don't know why he gets so upset about something that is utterly trivial.

Simulation: Meaning: a model of a set of problems or events that can be used to teach someone how to do somethingSentence: The manager prepared a computer simulation of likely sales performance for the rest of the year.

Dissimulation: Meaning: To conceal one's true feelings or intentions.Sentence: As an actress she had been trained to dissimulate, so she had no trouble hiding her true feelings offstage aswell.

Venal: Meaning: A venal person is willing to behave in a way that is not honest or moral in exchange for moneySentence: A venal ruler

Venial:Meaning: describes a wrong action that is not serious and therefore easy to forgiveSentence: Aristocracy is not an institution: aristocracy is a sin; generally a very venial one.

Pair of Words from CSS year 2005

Counsel: Meaning: to give advice, especially on social or personal problemsSentence: The police have provided experts to counsel local people affected by the tragedy.

Council:Meaning: a group of people elected or chosen to make decisions or give advice on a particular subject, to represent aparticular group of people, or to run a particular organizationSentence: This play is supported by a grant from the local arts council.

Distinct:Meaning: clearly noticeable; that certainly existsSentence: There's a distinct smell of cigarettes in here.

Distinctive:Meaning: Something that is distinctive is easy to recognize because it is different from other things

Sentence: She's got a very distinctive voice.

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Apposite: Meaning: suitable and right for the occasionSentence: It is, however, apposite to note that this process will continue in the year ahead.

Opposite:Meaning: completely differentSentence: You'd never know they're sisters - they're completely opposite to each other in every way.

DeprecateMeaning: to not approve of somethingSentence: We deprecate this use of company funds for political purposes.

Depreciate: Meaning: to (cause something to) lose value, especially over timeSentence: Our car depreciated by $1500 in the first year we owned it.

Punctual: Meaning: arriving, doing something or happening at the expected, correct timeSentence: He's fairly punctual.

Punctilious: Meaning: very careful to behave correctly or to give attention to detailsSentence: He was always punctilious in his manners.

Judicial: Meaning: involving a court of lawSentence: The defense team will seek a judicial review of the sentence.

Judicious:Meaning: having or showing reason and good judgment in making decisions

Sentence: We should make judicious use of the resources available to us.

Salutary: Meaning: causing improvement of behavior or characterSentence: It is however salutary to remember the genuine need for originality in the creation of a copyrightprotectable database.

Salubrious: Meaning: describes a place that is pleasant, clean, and healthy to live inSentence: He doesn't live in a very salubrious part of town.

Canvas: Meaning: a piece of cloth used by artists for painting on, usually with oil paints, or the painting itselfSentence: These two canvases by Hockney would sell for £500 000.

Canvass:Meaning: to try to get political support or votes, especially by visiting all the houses in an areaSentence: I've been out canvassing for the Labor Party every evening this week.

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Pair of Words from CSS year 2006

Voracity:Meaning: excessive desire to eatSentence: On reaching the ship they were offered some bread, which they devoured with a voracious appetite.

Veracity:Meaning: the quality of being true, honest or accurateSentence: The veracity of the second claim can be tested against the findings of archeology.

Persecute: Meaning: to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or politicalbeliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them aloneSentence: Religious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime.

Prosecute:

Meaning: to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that aperson accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crimeSentence: He was prosecuted for fraud.

Moat: Meaning: a long wide hole which is dug all the way around a place such as a castle, and usually filled with water, tomake it more difficult to attackSentence: The site of the manor house is surrounded by a narrow moat which is fed by water from the New River.

Mote:Meaning: something, especially a bit of dust, that is so small it is almost impossible to seeSentence: Dust motes swam alongside the gloomy corridor.

Loath: Meaning: to be unwilling to do somethingSentence: I'm loath to spend it all at once.

Loathe:Meaning: to hate someone or somethingSentence: From an early age the brothers have loathed each other.

Ingenious:Meaning: very clever and skillfulSentence: She was ingenious at finding ways to work more quickly.

Ingenuous:Meaning: honest, sincere and trusting/ showing innocent or childlike simplicity and candidnessSentence: It has to be said it was rather ingenuous of him to ask a complete stranger to look after his luggage. 

Fain: Meaning: glad; readySentence: He is fain to do all things himself.

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Feign:

Meaning: to pretend to feel something, usually an emotionSentence: You know how everyone feigns surprise when you tell them how old you are.

Immigrant: Meaning: a person who has come to a different country in order to live there permanentlySentence: Illegal immigrants are sent back across the border if they are caught.

Emigrant: Meaning: a person who emigratesSentence: There was only a small number of emigrants on board. 

Wreck: Meaning: to destroy or badly damage somethingSentence: Our greenhouse was wrecked in last night's storm.

Wreak:Meaning: to cause something to happen in a violent and often uncontrolled waySentence: The recent storms have wreaked havoc on crops.

Pair of Words from CSS year 2007

Affluence: Meaning: having a lot of money or owning a lot of thingsSentence: What we are seeing increasingly is a society of private affluence and public squalor.

Effluence:Meaning: a thing that flows out or forthSentence: How can Reef Entertainment justify releasing this effluence on the general public?

Wretch:Meaning: a person who experiences something unpleasantSentence: A gentleman said that a week ago he was the wretch in the county, but now saved.

Retch:Meaning: to react in a way as if you are vomitingSentence: The sight of blood makes him retch.

Euphemistic: Meaning: a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive wordSentence: 'Senior citizen' is a euphemism for 'old person'.

Euphuistic:Meaning: Affected elegance of language.Sentence: Euphuistic style has been used in many of his writings.

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Amoral: Meaning: without moral principlesSentence: The spies are younger, less jaded but equally cynical and still operating in a wholly amoral world.

Immoral:Meaning: morally wrongSentence: It's an immoral tax, because the poor will pay relatively more.

Imperial: Meaning: belonging or relating to an empire or the person or country that rules itSentence: Delhi is a city of two centers, comprising imperial Lutyens architecture and numerous monuments to theMoghul Empire.

Imperious:Meaning: unpleasantly proud and expecting obedienceSentence: He sent them away with an imperious wave of the hand.

Degrade: Meaning: to lower in rank or statusSentence: He likes to degrade people by calling them embarrassing names.

Denigrate:Meaning: to say that someone or something is not good or importantSentence: You shouldn't denigrate people just because they have different beliefs from you.

Temporal: Meaning: relating to practical matters or physical things, rather than spiritual onesSentence: Her starting point: 'The future is the only temporal area over which people have power’.

Temporary:Meaning: not lasting or needed for very longSentence: The ceasefire will only provide a temporary solution to the crisis. (Pair Repeated: 1)

Precipitate: Meaning: to make something happen suddenly or sooner than expectedSentence: Fear of losing her job precipitated her into action.

Precipitous:Meaning: sheer Sentence: Precipitous slopes of Reid's Ridge are visible on the right.

Pair of Words from CSS year 2008

Mitigate: Meaning: to make something less harmful, unpleasant or badSentence: It is unclear how to mitigate the effects of tourism on the island.

Alleviate:Meaning: to make something bad such as pain or problems less severeSentence: The drugs did nothing to alleviate her pain/suffering. 

Persecute: Meaning: to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or politicalbeliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them aloneSentence: Religious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime.

Prosecute:Meaning: to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that aperson accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crimeSentence: He was prosecuted for fraud. 

Popular: Meaning: liked, enjoyed or supported by many peopleSentence: She's the most popular teacher in school.

Populace:Meaning: the ordinary people who live in a particular country or placeSentence: Some studies show that workers in the nuclear industry are more likely than the general populace to getcancer. 

Compliment: Meaning: remark that expresses approval, admiration or respect

Sentence: I take it as a compliment when people say I look like my mother.

Complement:Meaning: to make something else seem better or more attractive when combining with itSentence: The music complements her voice perfectly.

Excite: Meaning: to make someone have strong feelings of happiness and enthusiasmSentence: Nothing about my life excites me at present.

Incite:Meaning: to encourage someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violentSentence: She was expelled for inciting her classmates to rebel against their teachers.Voracity:Meaning: excessive desire to eatSentence: On reaching the ship they were offered some bread, which they devoured with a voracious appetite.

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Veracity:Meaning: the quality of being true, honest or accurateSentence: The veracity of the second claim can be tested against the findings of archeology.

Virtuous: Meaning: having good moral qualities and behaviorSentence: He described them as a virtuous and hard-working people.

Virtual:Meaning: describes something that can be done or seen using a computer and therefore without going anywhere ortalking to anyoneSentence: In tests, we have found the virtual machine runs at a reasonable speed.

Exceptional: Meaning: much greater than usual, especially in skill, intelligence, quality, etcSentence: The Company has shown exceptional growth over the past two years.

Exceptionable:Meaning: offensive or upsettingSentence: This action is normally only taken in exceptionable circumstances.

Pair of Words from CSS year 2009

Persecute: Meaning: to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or politicalbeliefs or to annoy someone by refusing to leave them aloneSentence: Religious minorities were persecuted and massacred during the ten-year regime.

Prosecute:Meaning: to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a court of law, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that aperson accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crimeSentence: He was prosecuted for fraud.

Luxuriant: Meaning: growing thickly, strongly and wellSentence: This stretch of land was once covered with luxuriant forest, but is now bare.

Luxurious:Meaning: very comfortable and expensiveSentence: They have a very luxurious house.

Mean: Meaning: to express or represent something such as an idea, thought, or factSentence: These figures mean that almost 7% of the working population is unemployed.

Mien:Meaning: a person's appearance, especially the typical expression on their faceSentence: His aristocratic mien and smart clothes singled him out.

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Observation: Meaning: when you observe something or someoneSentence: The police are keeping the suspect under observation.

Observance:Meaning: when someone obeys a law or follows a religious customSentence: The State must enforce the observance of human rights in its domestic legal order.

Naughty: Meaning: not behaving properly; mischievous or disobedientSentence: Now that's naughty - you mustn't throw food on the floor!

Knotty:Meaning: complicated and difficult to solveSentence: That's rather a knotty question.

Ghostly: Meaning: pale and transparentSentence: The image is fading which gives the figure a rather ghostly appearance.

Ghastly:Meaning: unpleasant and shockingSentence: Today's newspaper gives all the ghastly details of the murder.

Hew: Meaning: to cut a large piece out of rock, stone or another hard material in a rough waySentence: The monument was hewn out of the side of a mountain.

Hue:Meaning: a particular shade or tint of a given colorSentence: In the Caribbean waters there are fish of every hue.

Hoard: Meaning: to collect large amounts of something and keep it in a safe, often secret, placeSentence: During the siege people began hoarding food and supplies.

Horde:Meaning: a large group of peopleSentence: Hordes of students on bikes made crossing the road difficult.

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Pair of Words from CSS year 2010

Adverse: Meaning: having a negative or harmful effect on somethingSentence: The match has been canceled due to adverse weather conditions.

Averse:Meaning: strongly disliking or opposed toSentence: Few MPs are averse to the attention of the media.

Maize: Meaning: a tall plant grown in many parts of the world for its yellow seeds which are eaten as food, made into flouror fed to animalsSentence: Some of our foods may contain ingredients produced from genetically modified maize.

Maze:Meaning: An intricate, usually confusing network of interconnecting pathwaysSentence: The old part of the town was a maze of narrow passages.

Medal: Meaning: a small, flat piece of metal with a design or inscription stamped or inscribed on it, made to commemoratesome event, or awarded for some distinguished actionSentence: She won three Olympic gold medals.

Meddle:Meaning: to concern oneself with or take part in other people's affairs without being asked or neededSentence: People shouldn't meddle with things they don't understand.

Imperial: Meaning: belonging or relating to an empire or the person or country that rules itSentence: Delhi is a city of two centers, comprising imperial Lutyens architecture and numerous monuments to theMoghul Empire.

Imperious:Meaning: unpleasantly proud and expecting obedienceSentence: He sent them away with an imperious wave of the hand.

Voracity:Meaning: excessive desire to eatSentence: On reaching the ship they were offered some bread, which they devoured with a voracious appetite.

Veracity:Meaning: the quality of being true, honest or accurateSentence: The veracity of the second claim can be tested against the findings of archeology.

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Illusion: Meaning: an idea or belief which is not trueSentence: He had no illusions about his talents as a singer.

Allusion:Meaning: something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular thing or personSentence: Her novels are packed with literary allusions. 

Ordinance: Meaning: a law or rule made by a government or authoritySentence: City Ordinance 126 forbids car parking in this area.

Ordnance:Meaning: all military weapons together with ammunition, combat vehicles, etc. and the equipment and supplies usedin servicing theseSentence: Do not touch any military ordnance that may be found lying around this area.

Willing: Meaning: to be happy to do something if it is neededSentence: You said you needed a volunteer - well, I'm willing.

Willful:Meaning: said or done deliberately or intentionally

Sentence: Willful killing is a grave breach.

Pair of Words from CSS year 2011

Capital:Meaning: a city which is the centre of government of a country or smaller political areaSentence: Australia's capital city is Canberra.

Capitol:Meaning: the building in which a state legislature meetsSentence: A state legislature will meet in a capitol building.

Assay:Meaning: an examination or testingSentence: A positive result has been obtained in a mouse lymphoma assay.

Essay:Meaning: attempt/ a short piece of writing on a particular subjectSentence: The Diploma is assessed by three essays of 3,000 words each.

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Envelop:Meaning: to cover or surround something completelySentence: The graveyard looked ghostly, enveloped in mist.

Envelope:Meaning: a flat, usually square or rectangular, paper container for a letterSentence: A stamped, addressed envelope should be enclosed for reply.

Decree:Meaning: an official statement that something must happenSentence: More than 200 people were freed by military decree.

Degree:Meaning: amount or level of somethingSentence: This job demands a high degree of skill.

Desolate:Meaning: describes a place that is empty and not attractiveSentence: The house stood in a bleak and desolate landscape.

Dissolute:Meaning: immoralSentence: He led a dissolute life.

Species:Meaning: a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each otherSentence: Over a hundred species of insect are found in this area.

Specie:Meaning: Coined moneySentence: The next insinuation is that the Bank has refused specie payments.

Tortuous:Meaning: not direct or simpleSentence: He took a tortuous route through back streets.

Torturous:Meaning: causing tortureSentence: It was torturous to think that he could have stopped the boy from running into the road.

Wet:Meaning: covered in water or another liquidSentence: My bike got wet in the rain.

Whet:Meaning: to increase someone's interest in and wish for somethingSentence: I've read an excerpt of the book on the Web and it's whetted my appetite.18

Pair of Words from CSS year 2013Adjoin:

Meaning: To be next to; be contiguous toSentence: A waiting room for friends of patients immediately adjoins.Adjourn:Meaning: To end something either temporarily or permanently or to postpone it to another time or place.Sentence: Adjourn to consider its decision.

AllayMeaning:  To make better or decrease something that is unpleasant.Sentence: During health questions the health secretary did not allay my fears.

 AllyMeaning: To join another in a mutually beneficial relationship.Sentence: During times of war, Britain was Poland's closest ally.

ClickMeaning: To make or cause a slight, sharp sound, or to be suddenly clearSentence: Please click here to view the found desired web site.

CliqueMeaning: A small, closed off group of people.Sentence: A big society exists in order to form cliques.

DistractMeaning: T o draw someone's attention away from something and on to something else.Sentence: You might want to even keep yourself slightly distracted.

Detract: Meaning: Reduce or take away the worth or value Sentence: Your foolish action had detracted my main idea.

LiableMeaning: Being likely to do or experience something or to having legal responsibility for something.Sentence: Chief Officers should be vicariously liable for the actions of their officers.

LibelMeaning: A written and published false statement about someone that damages their reputation.Sentence: he following year his attacks on the governor of new york led to him being arrested for seditiouslibel.

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Other Important Pair of words

All: Meaning: every one (of), or the complete amount or number (of), or the whole (of)Sentence: All animals have to eat in order to live.

Awl: Meaning: a small, pointed tool for making holes in wood, leather, etc.Sentence: That awl causes loud noise.

Boy: Meaning: a male childSentence: As a young boy, my father used to walk three miles to school.

Buoy: Meaning: a floating object on the top of the sea, which is used for directing ships and warning them of possibledangerSentence: The zones for swimming and the zones for water sports are clearly marked by buoys.

Fallow:Meaning: describes land that is not planted with crops, in order to improve the quality of the soilSentence: Farmers are eligible for government support if they let a certain amount of land lie fallow.

Fellow: Meaning: describes someone who has the same job or interests as you, or is in the same situation as youSentence: She introduced me to some of her fellow students.

Jewry: Meaning: all the JewsSentence: Dr. Lisa is an expert of Latin American Jewry.

Jury: Meaning: a group of people who have been chosen to listen to all the facts in a trial in a law court and to decidewhether a person is guilty or not guiltySentence: Police officers aren't usually allowed to be on a jury.

Functional: 

Meaning: designed to be practical and useful rather than attractiveSentence: Project work is used to integrate material and make knowledge functional.

Dysfunctional: Meaning: not behaving or working normallySentence: The craftsman is likely to seem dysfunctional in a culture of innovation and change.

Yew: Meaning: an evergreen tree with flat leaves like needles and small red cones, or the wood from this treeSentence: There is little sound except for the breeze stirring in the churchyard yew trees.

Eue: Meaning: Unable to find this word in dictionaries Sentence: An eue passed in his life which made him dull for an year.

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Allusive: Meaning: containing a lot of allusionsSentence: Her music is allusive.Elusive: Meaning: difficult to describe, find, achieve or rememberSentence: The answers to these questions remain as elusive as ever.

Ladylike: Meaning: graceful, controlled and behaving in a way that is socially acceptable for a womanSentence: Laura is very ladylike and elegant.

Ladyship:Meaning: a respectful way of referring to or talking to a woman or girl who has the rank of a peer or knight withoutusing her titleSentence: We are honored to welcome your ladyship here tonight.

Differ:Meaning: to be not like something or someone else, either physically or in another waySentence: The twins look alike, but they differ in temperament.

Defer:Meaning: to delay something until a later time; to postponeSentence: My bank has agreed to defer the repayments on my loan while I'm still a student.

Conscious: 

Meaning: to notice that a particular thing or person exists or is presentSentence: I think she's very conscious of being the only person in the office who didn't have a university education.

Conscience: Meaning: the part of you that judges how moral your own actions are and makes you feel guilty about bad thingsthat you have done Sentence: You didn't do anything wrong - you should have a clear conscience.

Confidant:Meaning: a person you trust and share your feelings and secrets withSentence: Within a few short years he was a trusted confidant.

Confidante:Meaning: a woman or girl confidantSentence: Within a few short years he was a trusted confidant.

Atheist:Meaning: someone who believes that God or gods do not existSentence: I know an atheist who says ' Oh god!

Agnostic: Meaning: someone who does not know, or believes that it is impossible to know, whether a god existsSentence: Although he was raised a Catholic, he was an agnostic for most of his adult life.

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Loose:Meaning: not firmly fixed in placeSentence: There were some loose wires hanging out of the wall.

Lose:Meaning: to no longer have something because you do not know where it is, or because it has been taken away fromyouSentence: I've lost my ticket.

Briefing:Meaning: information that is given to someone just before they do something or a meeting where this happensSentence: They received thorough briefing before they left the country.

Debriefing: Meaning: to question someone in detail about work they have done for youSentence: The pilots were thoroughly debriefed after every mission.

Dual:Meaning: with two parts, or combining two thingsSentence: This room has a dual purpose, serving as both a study and a dining room.

Duel: Meaning: a formal fight in the past, using guns or swords, arranged between two people as a way of deciding anargumentSentence: The composer Strauss was once challenged to a duel.

Compliment: Meaning: remark that expresses approval, admiration or respectSentence: I take it as a compliment when people say I look like my mother.

Complement:Meaning: to make something else seem better or more attractive when combining with itSentence: The music complements her voice perfectly. 

Altogether: Meaning: completely or in totalSentence: The government ought to abolish the tax altogether.

All together:Meaning: all at the same timeSentence: The last time we were all together was in 1999.Ambiguous:Meaning: having or expressing more than one possible meaning, sometimes intentionallySentence: His reply to my question was somewhat ambiguous.

Ambivalent:Meaning: having two opposing feelings at the same time, or being uncertain about how you feelSentence: I felt very ambivalent about leaving home.

Appraise: Meaning: to examine someone or something in order to judge their qualities, success or needsSentence: At the end of each teaching practice, trainee teachers are asked to appraise their own performance.

Apprise:

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Meaning: to tell someone about somethingSentence: The President has been apprised of the situation. Bad: Meaning: unpleasant; causing difficulties or harmSentence: Our holiday was spoiled by bad weather.

Badly:Meaning: in a severe and harmful waySentence: She was badly affected by the events in her childhood.

Compare: Meaning: to examine or look for the difference between two or more thingsSentence: If you compare house prices in the two areas, it's quite amazing how different they are.

Contrast: Meaning: an obvious difference between two or more thingsSentence: The antique furnishing provides an unusual contrast to the modernity of the building.

Deduce: Meaning: to reach an answer or a decision by thinking carefully about the known factsSentence: We cannot deduce very much from these figures.

Imply:Meaning: to communicate an idea or feeling without saying it directlySentence: I detected an implied criticism of the way he was treated.

Differ from: Meaning: to be not like something or someone else, either physically or in another waySentence: His views differ considerably from those of his parents.

Differ with: Meaning: to disagreeSentence: I beg to differ with you on that point.

Farther: Meaning: to a greater distanceSentence: The fog's so thick, I can't see farther than about ten meters.

Further:Meaning: to a greater distance or degree; at a more advanced levelSentence: We discussed the problem but we didn't get much further in actually solving it.

Occlude: Meaning: to close, shut, or blockSentence: I try to set the end distance (at which the fog totally occludes everything) no lower than 4000.

Occult:Meaning: relating to magical powers and activities, such as those of witchcraft and astrologySentence: She claims to have occult powers, given to her by some mysterious spirit.

Practical: Meaning: relating to experience, real situations or actions rather than ideas or imaginationSentence: Qualifications are important but practical experience is always an advantage.

Practicable:

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Meaning: able to be done or put into actionSentence: The troops will be brought home as soon as practicable.

Raze:Meaning: to completely destroy a city, building, etcSentence: The town was razed to the ground in the bombing raid - not a building was left standing.

Raise: Meaning: to lift something to a higher positionSentence: Would all those in favor please raise their hands?

Canon: Meaning: a Christian priest with special duties in a cathedralSentence: He was first appointed as a residentiary canon and only became Chancellor after several years with us.

Cannon:Meaning: a large, mounted piece of artillery; sometimes, specif., a large gun with a relatively short barrel, as ahowitzerSentence: Instead of eight machine guns, it now had twelve, or four 20mm cannon. 

Avenge: Meaning: to do harm to or punish the person responsible for something bad done to youSentence: He swore he would avenge his brother's death.

Revenge:

Meaning: harm done to someone as a punishment for harm that they have done to someone elseSentence: He is believed to have been shot by a rival gang in revenge for the shootings last week.

Caret: Meaning: a mark (‸) used in writing or in correcting proof, to show where something is to be insertedSentence: Some screen readers use the system caret to determine which area of the screen to read or magnify.

Carat:Meaning: a unit for measuring the weight of jewelsSentence: 24-carat gold is the purest.

Revel:Meaning: to separate the parts, esp. threadsSentence: The road raveled rapidly and became merely a pile of loose stones.

Reveal:Meaning: to make known or show something that is surprising or that was previously secretSentence: He was jailed for revealing secrets to the Russians.

Aviary: Meaning: a large cage or closed space in which birds are kept as petsSentence: I have an aviary with 17 birds.

Apiary:Meaning: a place where people keep bees, especially a collection of hives kept to provide honeySentence: I once visited an apiary where there were numerous cardboard boxes scattered around.

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Demeane:Meaning: Unable to find in dictionariesSentence: Unable to find in dictionaries

Demean:Meaning: to cause someone to become less respectedSentence: The entire family was demeaned by his behavior.

SOLVED IDIOMS SINCE 1971

1- Carry out 

Accomplish, bring to a conclusion They carried out the mission successfully. Shakespeare had this term in King Lear (5:1): “And hardly shall I carry out my side, her husbandbeing alive

Put in practice or effect, We will carry out the new policy.Please carry out my instructions. 

2- Taken over

Assume control, management, or possession of The pilot told his copilot to take over the controls. There’s a secret bid to take over our company. [Late 1800s]

3- Bring about

causeShe hopes to bring about a change in his attitude.

4- Beat out

Knock into shape by beatingShe managed to beat out all the dents in the fender. [c. 1600]

Surpass or defeat someone, be chosen over someone He got to the head of the line, beating out all the others. 

Beat out of Cheat someone of somethingHe was always trying to beat the conductor out of the full train fare.

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5- Bear with

Put up with, make allowance for He'll just have to bear with them until they decide. Nicholas Udall used this term in Ralph Roister Doister (c. 1553): "The heart of a man should more honour win by bearing with a woman." 

It may also be used as an imperative.Bear with me—I'm getting to the point.

__________________________

1972

1- To fall back on something / fall back upon 

Rely on, have recourse to I fall back on old friends in time of need.When he lost his job he had to fall back upon his savings

2- To fall through

Fail, miscarryThe proposed amendment fell through.I hope our plans won't fall through. [Late 1700s]

3- On right earnest

4- Vested interests

A personal stake in somethingShe has a vested interest in keeping the house in her name. This term, first recorded in 1818, uses vested in the sense of "established" or "secured."

5- Meaningful dialogue__________________________

4

1973

1- Turn to account

Use for one's benefitHe turned the delay to good account, using the time to finish correspondence. This idiom, first recorded in 1878, uses account in the sense of "a reckoning."

2- To beat the air / beat the wind

Continue to make futile attempts, fight to no purposeThe candidates for office were so much alike that we thought our vote amounted to beating theair. These phrases call up a vivid image of someone flailing away at nothing. [Late 1300s]

3- To break a lance with

To engage in a tilt or contest

4- To foul of, (foul play)

Unfair or treacherous action, especially involving violenceThe police suspected he had met with foul play. This term originally was and still is applied to unfair conduct in a sport or game and was beingused figuratively by the late 1500s. Shakespeare used it in The Tempest (1:2): "What foul play had we that we came from thence?"

5- To keep open house

To entertain friends at all times, to be hospitable

6- To put out of countenance

7- Got up to kill

8- To have a finger in the pie

Have an interest in or meddle in somethingWhen they nominated me for the board, I'm sure Bill had a finger in the pie. 

5

Another form of this idiom is have a finger in every pie

to have an interest in or be involved in everythingShe does a great deal for the town; she has a finger in every pie. The precise origin of this metaphor, which presumably eludes either to tasting every pie or beinginvolved in their concoction, has been lost. [Late 1500s]__________________________

1974

1- When all is said and done / After all is said and done 

In the end, neverthelessWhen all's said and done, the doctors did what they could for Gordon, but he was too ill tosurvive. This term was first recorded in 1560.

2- An axe to grind

A selfish aim or motiveThe article criticized the new software, but the author had an axe to grind, as its manufacturerhad fired his son. 

This frequently used idiom comes from a story by Charles Miner, published in 1811, about a boywho was flattered into turning the grindstone for a man sharpening his axe. He worked hard untilthe school bell rang, whereupon the man, instead of thanking the boy, began to scold him forbeing late and told him to hurry to school. "Having an axe to grind" then came into figurative use for having a personal motive for someaction. [Mid-1800s]

3- Turn a new leaf

Make a fresh start, change one's conduct or attitude for the betterHe promised the teacher he would turn over a new leaf and behave himself in class. This expression alludes to turning the page of a book to a new page. [Early 1500s]

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4- Burn the candle at both ends

Exhaust one's energies or resources by leading a hectic lifeJoseph's been burning the candle at both ends for weeks, working two jobs during the week and athird on weekends. 

This metaphor originated in France and was translated into English in Randle Cotgrave'sDictionary (1611), where it referred to dissipating one's wealth. It soon acquired its presentbroader meaning.

5- Leave in the lurch

Desert or leave alone and in trouble, refuse to help or support someoneHe left me in the lurch when he didn't come over to help me although he had promised to earlierin the day.

6- Goes without saying

Be self-evident, a matter of courseIt goes without saying that success is the product of hard work. This expression is a translation of the French cela va sans dire. [Second half of 1800s]

7- Like a red rag to a bull

If something is a red rag to a bull, it is something that will inevitably make somebody angry orcross.

8- Not a leg to stand on

With no chance of successHe tried to get the town to change the street lights, but because there was no money in the budgethe found himself without a leg to stand on. 

A related idiom is not having a leg to stand on Once the detective exposed his false alibi, he didn't have a leg to stand on. This metaphoric idiom transfers lack of physical support to arguments or theories. [Late 1500s]

9- Under the thumb of

Controlled or dominated by someone

He's been under his mother's thumb for years.The allusion in this metaphoric idiom is unclear, that is, why a thumb rather than a fist or someother anatomic part should symbolize control. [Mid-1700s]

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10- The writing on the wall / handwriting on the wall

If the writing's on the wall for something, it is doomed to fail.A warning or presentiment of dangerThe Company was losing money, and seeing the handwriting on the wall, she started to look foranother job. 

This expression comes from the Bible (Daniel 5:5-31), in which the prophet interprets somemysterious writing that a disembodied hand has inscribed on the palace wall, telling KingBelshazzar that he will be overthrown__________________________

1975

1- To sow one's wild oats

Behave foolishly, immoderately or promiscuously when youngBrad has spent the last couple of years sowing his wild oats, but now he seems ready to settledown. This expression alludes to sowing inferior wild oats instead of good cultivated grain, the verbsowing—that is, “planting seed”—in particular suggesting sexual promiscuity. [Mid-1500s]

2- Storm in a tea cup

If someone exaggerates a problem or makes a small problem seem far greater than it really is,then they are making a storm in a teacup

3- To keep late hours

Stay awake until late at nightNever call Ethel before noon; she keeps late hours and sleeps all morning.

4- To throw cold water on

to discourage, to remove hope, deterSteve wanted to expand the business into China, but his boss threw cold water on the idea, andtold him to focus on the domestic business.Cutting my year-end bonus poured cold water on my loyalty to the company.

Hearing about the outbreak of cholera threw cold water on our plans to visit Bolivia. 

This term, with its image of putting out a fire with water, at one time meant “defame” or“slander”; the modern meaning dates from about 1800.

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5- A cock and bull story

An unbelievable tale that is intended to deceive; a tall taleJack told us some cock and bull story about getting lost. 

This expression may come from a folk tale involving these two animals, or from the name of anEnglish inn where travellers told such tales. W.S. Gilbert used it in The Yeomen of the Guard (1888), where Jack Point and Wilfred the Jailermake up a story about the hero's fictitious death: "Tell a tale of cock and bull, of convincingdetail full." [c. 1600]

6- To bear the brunt of

Put up with the worst of some bad circumstanceIt was the secretary who had to bear the brunt of the doctor's anger. 

This idiom uses brunt in the sense of "the main force of an enemy's attack," which was sustainedby the front lines of the defenders. [Second half of 1700s]

7- Tied to apron-strings of

Wholly dependent on or controlled by a woman, especially one's mother or wife.At 25, he was still too tied to her apron strings to get an apartment of his own. 

This expression, dating from the early 1800s, probably alluded to apron-string tenure, a 17th-century law that allowed a husband to control his wife's and her family's property during herlifetime.

8- To move heaven and earth

Exert the utmost effortI'd move heaven and earth to get an apartment here. This hyperbolic expression was first recorded in 1792.

 9- To blow one’s own trumpet / blow one's trumpet

Vast in a boastful, self-promoting manner , brag about oneselfWithin two minutes of meeting someone new, Bill was blowing his own horn. [Late 1500s]

10- To rest on one's laurels

Rely on one's past achievements, especially as a way of avoiding the work needed to advanceone's status.Now that Julian's in his eighties, he's decided to rest on his laurels and let some of the youngeragents do the work. 

9

This term alludes to the crown of laurels awarded in ancient times for a spectacular achievement.[Late 1800s]__________________________

1976

1- Trudge along

2- Point-blank

Close enough to go directly to a target

3- In the doldrums

Depressed, dull and listlessDean's in the doldrums for most of every winter. This expression alludes to the maritime doldrums, a belt of calms and light winds north of theequator in which sailing ships were often becalmed. [Early 1800s]

4- Dole out / on the dole

receiving payment from the government, as reliefThey couldn't afford any luxuries while living on the dole.

5- At cross purposes

When people are at cross purposes, they misunderstand each other or have different or opposingobjectivesWith aims or goals that conflict or interfere with one anotherI'm afraid the two departments are working at cross purposes. 

This idiom, first recorded in 1688, may have begun as a 17th-century parlor game called “cross-purposes,” in which a series of subjects (or questions) were divided from their explanations (oranswers) and distributed around the room. Players then created absurdities by combining asubject taken from one person with an explanation taken from another.

6- Check by jowl

in close intimacy, side by side:a row of houses cheek by jowl

7- Succinctly

10

Characterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and tersea succinct reply; a succinct style.

8- Hilarious detract from

9- Plain sailing

Easy going; straightforward, unobstructed progress The first few months were difficult, but I think it's plain sailing from here on. 

Alluding to navigating waters free of hazards, such as rocks or other obstructions, this term wastransferred to other activities in the early 1800s.__________________________

1977

1- To bear the brunt of

Put up with the worst of some bad circumstanceIt was the secretary who had to bear the brunt of the doctor's anger. 

This idiom uses brunt in the sense of "the main force of an enemy's attack", which was sustainedby the front lines of the defenders. [Second half of 1700s]

2- To call a spade a spade

A person who calls a spade a spade is one speaks frankly and makes little or no attempt toconceal their opinions or to spare the feelings of their audience.

3- To fight shy of

Avoid meeting or confronting someoneI have had to fight shy of invitations that would exhaust time and spirits"(Washington Irving,Life and Letters, 1821). 

This usage may allude to a military reluctance to meet or engage with the enemy. [Late 1700s]

11

4- To cry over the spilt milk

This idiom means that getting upset after something has gone wrong is pointless; it can't bechanged so it should be accepted.

5- To burn the candle at both ends

Someone who burns the candle at both ends lives life at a hectic pace, doing things which arelikely to affect their health badly.Exhaust one's energies or resources by leading a hectic life.

Joseph's been burning the candle at both ends for weeks, working two jobs during the week and athird on weekends. 

This metaphor originated in France and was translated into English in Randle Cotgrave'sDictionary (1611), where it referred to dissipating one's wealth. It soon acquired its presentbroader meaning.

6- To rob peter to pay Paul

If you rob Peter to pay Paul, you try to solve one problem, but create another in doing so, often through short-term planning

7- To take the bull by the horns

Taking a bull by its horns would be the most direct but also the most dangerous way to try tocompete with such an animal. When we use the phrase in everyday talk, we mean that the person we are talking about tacklestheir problems directly and is not worried about any risks involved.

8- Playing to the gallery

If someone plays to the gallery, they say or do things that will make them popular at the expenseof more important issues

9- Holding out the olive branch

If you hold out or offer an olive branch, you make a gesture to indicate that you want peace.

10- To make out

Discern or see, especially with difficultyI can hardly make out the number on the door. [Mid-1700s]

12

Manage, get alongHow did you make out with the accountant? This usage was first recorded in 1820.

UnderstandI can't make out what she is trying to say. [Mid-1600s] 

Establish or proveHe made out that he was innocent. [Colloquial; mid-1600s]

Amply or suggest. This usage often occurs with an infinitiveAre you making me out to be a liar? [Colloquial; mid-1600s]

Write out, draw up; fill in a written formHe made out the invoices, or Jane started making out job applications. This usage was first recorded in 1465__________________________

1978

1- The acid test

An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or no

2- A bad hat

Someone who deliberately stirs up trouble

3- In a blue funk

In a state of panic or terrorJust because the bride's mother is late, you needn't get in a blue funk. 

This term originated in the mid-1700s as in a funk, the adjective blue, meaning "affected withfear or anxiety", being added a century later.

13

In a state of dejection, sadAnne has been in a blue funk since her dog died. 

This usage employs blue in the sense of "sad"—a meaning that first emerged in the late 1300s.

4- Set one's cap Down at heel

Also, on someone's heels. Immediately behind, in close pursuit. 

Literal useJean's dog was always at her heels.

Figurative useAlthough his company dominated the technology, he always felt that his competitors were on hisheels. 

This idiom appeared in the 14th-century romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. 

The expression is sometimes intensified as hard on someone's heels or hot on someone's heels

5- To die in harness

Expire while working, keep working to the endHe'll never retire—he'll die with his boots on.She knows she'll never get promoted, but she wants to die in harness. 

Both phrases probably allude to soldiers who died on active duty. Until the early 1600s the nounboot denoted a piece of armor for the legs, which may have given rise to this usage.

Shakespeare used harness in the sense of armor when he wrote: "At least we'll die with harnesson our back" (Macbeth 5:5).

6- Dead as doornail / dead as a dodo or herring

Totally or assuredly dead; also finishedThe cop announced that the body in the dumpster was dead as a doornail.The radicalism she professed in her adolescence is now dead as a dodo.The Equal Rights Amendment appears to be dead as a herring. 

The first, oldest, and most common of these similes, all of which can be applied literally topersons or, more often today, to issues, involves doornail, dating from about 1350. 

Its meaning is disputed but most likely it referred to the costly metal nails hammered into theouter doors of the wealthy (most people used the much cheaper wooden pegs), which were

14

clinched on the inside of the door and therefore were "dead", that is, could not be used again. 

Dead as a herring dates from the 16th century and no doubt alludes to the bad smell this deadfish gives off, making its death quite obvious. 

Dead as a dodo, referring to the extinct bird, dates from the early 1900s.

7- To raise coin

8- To strike one's colours

9. To carry the day

Win, prevailAt auctions the wealthiest bidders usually carry the day. [Late 1600s]__________________________

1979

1- Taken down at peg

If someone is taken down a peg (or taken down a peg or two), they lose status in the eyes ofothers because of something they have done wrong or badly.

2- To monkey with

3- In hot water

in trouble4- Petticoat Government

5- To pull oneself together

Regain one's composure or self-controlAfter that frightening episode, it took her a while to pull herself together. [Second half of 1800s]

6- To rise from the ranks / come up through the ranks

Work one's way to the topHe's risen through the ranks, starting as a copy boy and ending up as senior editor. 

Originally this term was used for an officer who had worked his way up from the rank of private,

15

a rare feat. It was being applied to non-military advances by the mid-1800s

7- To rub shoulders

If you rub shoulders with people, you meet and spend time with them, especially when they arepowerful or famous.__________________________

1980

b) Bring out the meaning of any five of the following in appropriate sentences:

1- Pocket the affront

2- Thin end of the wedge

The thin end of the wedge is something small and seemingly unimportant that will lead tosomething much bigger and more serious.

3- Flash in the pan

If something is a flash in the pan, it is very noticeable but doesn't last long, like most singers,who are very successful for a while, then forgotten

4- To keep at

Persevere or persist at doing something. If you keep at your Math, you'll soon master it. 

It is also put as keep at itHe kept at it all day and finally finished the report. [Early 1800s] 

Keep at someone

Nag, harass, or annoy someoneYou have to keep at Carl if you want him to do the work.He keeps at Millie all the time.

5- At one's beck and call

Ready to comply with any wish or command

16

6- Go against the grain  

A person who does things in an unconventional manner, especially if their methods are notgenerally approved of, is said to go against the grain. Such an individual can be called amaverick.

7- Bring grist to the mill

Something that you can use to your advantage is grist for the mill. ('Grist to the mill' is also used. 8- Upset the apple cart 

Spoil carefully laid plansNow don't upset the apple cart by revealing where we're going. 

This expression started out as upset the cart, used since Roman times to mean "spoil everything".The precise idiom dates from the late 1700s.

9- Hoist on one's own petard

If you are hoist with your own petard, you get into trouble or caught in a trap that you had setfor someone else.

10- Live on the fat of the land

The best or richest of anythingThe tiny upper class lived off the fat of the land while many of the poor were starving. 

This expression alludes to fat in the sense of "the best or richest part". The Bible has it as eat the fat of the land (Genesis 45:18).__________________________

1981

1- To have your cake and eat it too

If someone wants to have their cake and eat it too, they want everything their way, especially

17

when their wishes are contradictory.

2- Between the devil and the deep blue sea

If you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a dilemma; a difficultchoice.

3- To be in hot water

If you get into hot water, you get into trouble

4- To be on the carpet

Summoned before someone in authority for punishment 

5- It never rains but it pours

when things go wrong, they go very wrong.

6- A miss is as good as a mile

Coming close to success but failing is no better than failing by a lotHe was beaten by just one vote, but a miss is as good as a mile. 

This proverbial expression, first recorded in 1614, is a shortening of the older form, "An inch ofa miss is as good [or bad] as a mile of a miss."

7- To give oneself airs

Assume a haughty manner, pretend to be better than one isI'm sick of Claire and the way she puts on airs. 

Airs here means “a manner of superiority.” [c. 1700]

8- To have the courage of one’s convictions

Behave according to one's beliefsCarl wouldn't give his best friend any of the test answers; he had the courage of his convictions. 

This expression is believed to have originated as a translation of the French le courage de sonopinion ("the courage of his opinion"), dating from the mid-1800s and at first so used. By thelate 1800s it had changed to the present form.

18

9- The onlooker sees most of the game

10- Out of sight out of mind

It is used to suggest that someone will not think or worry about something if it isn't directlyvisible or available to them__________________________

1982

1- To come to a dead end

A passage that has no exitThis street's a dead end, so turn back. [Late 1800s]

An impasse or blind alley, allowing no progress to be madeThis job is a dead end; I'll never be able to advance. [c. 1920]

2- To turn a deaf ear

If someone turns a deaf ear to you, they don't listen to you.

3- Every dark cloud has a silver lining

An element of hope or a redeeming quality in an otherwise bad situationThe rally had a disappointing turnout, but the silver lining was that those who came pledged agreat deal of money. 

This metaphoric term is a shortening of Every cloud has a silver lining, in turn derived from JohnMilton's Comus (1634): "A sable cloud turns forth its silver lining on the night."

4- Blowing hot and cold together

Change one's mind, vacillateJean's been blowing hot and cold about taking a winter vacation. 

This expression comes from Aesop's fable (c. 570 B.C.) about a man eating with a satyr on awinter day. At first the man blew on his hands to warm them and then blew on his soup to coolit. The satyr thereupon renounced the man's friendship because he blew hot and cold out of thesame mouth. 

The expression was repeated by many writers, most often signifying a person who could not berelied on. 

19

William Chillingworth put it: "These men can blow hot and cold out of the same mouth to serveseveral purposes”"(The Religion of Protestants, 1638).

5- To let the cat out of the bag

If you accidentally reveal a secret, you let the cat out of the bag, Give away a secretMom let the cat out of the bag and told us Karen was engaged. 

This expression alludes to the dishonest practice of a merchant substituting a worthless cat for avaluable pig, which is discovered only when the buyer gets home and opens the bag. [Mid-1700s]

6- To put the cart before the horse

Reverse the proper order of things or eventsDon't put the cart before the horse and give away the punch line. 

This expression has been used since antiquity but was first recorded in English in 1520.

7- To sail in the same boat

If people are in the same boat, they are in the same predicament or trouble.

8- A Swan Song

A final accomplishment or performance, one's last work.I'm resigning tomorrow; this project was my swan song. 

This term alludes to the old belief that swans normally are mute but burst into beautiful songmoments before they die. Although the idea is much older, the term was first recorded in Englishonly in 1890

__________________________

1984

a) To look a gift horse in the mouth

Be critical or suspicious of something received at no costDad's old car is full of dents, but we shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. 

This term, generally expressed as a cautionary proverb (Don't look a gift horse in the mouth), hasbeen traced to the writings of the 4th-century cleric, St. Jerome, and has appeared in Englishsince about 1500. It alludes to determining the age of a horse by looking at its teeth

20

b) To have an axe to grind

If you have an axe to grind with someone or about something, you have a grievance, resentmentand you want to get revenge or sort it out. In American English, it is 'ax'

c) To wash one’s dirty linen in public / air one's dirty linen or laundry

Expose private matters to public view, especially unsavory secrets 

These metaphors are reworking of a French proverb, IL fault laver son linge sale en famille(“One should wash one's dirty linen at home”), which was quoted by Napoleon on his returnfrom Elba (1815). It was first recorded in English in 1867.

d) To pocket an insult

e) To take to one's heels

Run awayWhen the burglar alarm went off they took to their heels. 

This expression alludes to the fact that the heels are all one sees of a fugitive running away fast.Although similar expressions turned up from Shakespeare's time on, the exact idiom dates onlyfrom the first half of the 1800s

f) To win laurels

g) A gentleman at large

Free, unconfined, especially not confined in prisonTo our distress, the housebreakers were still at large. [1300s] 

At length, fully; also, as a whole, in generalThe chairman talked at large about the company's plans for the coming yearShakespeare wrote in Love's Labour's Lost (1:1): "So to the laws at large I write my name" (thatis, I uphold the laws in general). This usage is somewhat less common. [1400s] 

Elected to represent an entire group of voters rather than those in a particular district or othersegmentAlderman at large, representing all the wards of a city instead of just one, or delegate at large to alabor union convention. [Mid-1700s] __________________________

21

1985

a) By and by 

After a while, soonShe'll be along by and by. 

The expression probably relies on the meaning of by as a succession of quantities (as in "two bytwo"). This adverbial phrase came to be used as a noun, denoting either procrastination or thefuture. 

William Camden so used it for the former (Remains, 1605): "Two anons and a by and by is anhour and a half." And W.S. Gilbert used it in the latter sense when Lady Jane sings plaintivelythat little will be left of her "in the coming by and by," that is, as she grows old (Patience, 1881).[Early 1500s]

b) The lion's share

The greater part or most of somethingWhenever they won a doubles match, Ethel claimed the lion's share of the credit.As usual, Uncle Bob took the lion's share of the cake. 

This expression alludes to Aesop's fable about a lion, who got all of a kill because its fellowhunters, an ass, fox, and wolf, were afraid to claim their share.

c) In black and white 

When it is very clear who or what is right and wrong, then the situation is black and white.

d) To bring to book

Call to account, investigateHe was acquitted, but one day soon he'll be brought to book.As for your records, the IRS is sure to bring you to book concerning your tax deductions. 

This term uses book in the sense of "a written record," such as an account book or ledger. [c.1800]

22

e) To read between the lines 

Perceive or detect a hidden meaningThey say that everything is fine, but reading between the lines I suspect they have some maritalproblems. 

This term comes from cryptography, where in one code reading every second line of a messagegives a different meaning from that of the entire text. [Mid-1800s]

f) To stick to one's guns

Hold fast to a statement, opinion, or course of actionThe witness stuck to her guns about the exact time she was there. 

This expression, originally put as stand to one's guns, alluded to a gunner remaining by his post.Its figurative use dates from the mid-1800s.

g) To be under a cloud 

If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.

h) By fits and starts / in fits and starts

With irregular intervals of action and inaction, spasmodicallyThe campaign is proceeding by fits and starts. 

This expression began in the late 1500s as by fits, the noun fit meaning a "paroxysm" or"seizure"; starts was added about a century later.__________________________

1987

1- To back out / back away / back out of something

Move or retreat backwards without turning, withdraw from a situation, or break an agreementor engagement.After the announcement appeared in the papers, Mary found it doubly difficult to back out of herengagement to Todd. [Early 1800s]

2- To keep out of

3- Bang into

23

Crash noisily into, collide withA clumsy fellow, Bill was always banging into furniture. [Early 1700s]

Strike heavily so as to drive in; also, persuadeI've been banging nails into the siding all day.I can't seem to bang it into his head that time is precious. 

The literal usage dates from the mid-1500s, the figurative from the second half of the 1800s. 

4- To smell a rat

If you smell a rat, you know instinctively that something is wrong or that someone is lying to you.

5- To burn one's fingers

Harm oneselfI'm staying away from risky stocks; I've burned my fingers often enough. 

Some believe this expression came from a legend about a monkey who gets a cat to pull itschestnuts out of the fire (see cat's paw); others hold it is from an English proverb: "Burn not thy fingers to snuff another's candle" (James Howell, English Proverbs, 1659)

6- Null and void

Cancelled, invalidThe lease is now null and void. 

This phrase is actually redundant, since null means "void," that is, "ineffective." It was firstrecorded in 1669.

7- To catch up with

Suddenly snatch or lift upThe wind caught up the kite and sent it high above the trees. [First half of 1300s]

catch up with

Come from behind, overtake

literal:You run so fast it's hard to catch up with you.

figurative:The auditors finally caught up with the embezzler. [Mid-1800s]

24

Become involved with, enthralled byWe all were caught up in the magical mood of that evening. [Mid-1600s]

catch up on or with

Bring or get up to dateLet's get together soon and catch up on all the news.Tonight I have to catch up with my correspondence. [First half of 1900s]

8- To stand up for

Remain valid, sound, or durableHis claim will not stand up in court.Our old car stood up well over time. [Mid-1900s]

Fail to keep a date or appointment withAl stood her up twice in the past week, and that will be the end of their relationship. [Colloquial;c. 1900]

9- To skim through

10- To narrow down__________________________

1988

a) As cool as a cucumber

If someone is as cool as a cucumber, they don't get worried by anything.

b) Have your cake and eat too

If someone wants to have their cake and eat it too, they want everything their way, especiallywhen their wishes are contradictory

c) In a Pickle

If you are in a pickle, you are in some trouble or a mess.

d) Take a cake

Be the most outstanding in some respect, either the best or the worst.That advertising slogan really took the cake.What a mess they made of the concert—that takes the cake! 25

This expression alludes to a contest called a cakewalk, in which a cake is the prize. Its figurativeuse, for something either excellent or outrageously bad, dates from the 1880s.

e) Sell like hot cakes

If something is selling like hotcakes, it is very popular and selling very well.

f) As flat as a Pancake

It is so flat that it is like a pancake- there is no head on that beer it is as flat as a pancake.

g) Take something with a grain of salt / pinch of salt

If you should take something with a grain of salt, you shouldn't necessarily believe it all.

h) Like two peas in a pod

Things that are like two peas in a pod are very similar or identical.__________________________

1989

a) Account for

Be the determining factor in; causeThe heat wave accounts for all this food spoilage, or Icy roads account for the increase inaccidents. 

Explain or justifyJane was upset because her son couldn't account for the three hours between his last class and hisarrival at home. 

Both of these related usages are derived from the literal meaning of the phrase, that is, "make areckoning of an account." [Second half of 1700s]

b) Carry weight / carry authority or conviction

Exert influence, authority, or persuasionNo matter what the President says, his words always carry weight. Shakespeare combined two ofthese expressions in Henry VIII (3:2): 

26

"Words cannot carry authority so weighty." [c. 1600]

c) To fall back upon

Rely on, have recourse toI fall back on old friends in time of need, or When he lost his job he had to fall back upon hissavings. [Mid-1800s]

d) To be taken aback

Surprise, shockHe was taken aback by her caustic remark. 

This idiom comes from nautical terminology of the mid-1700s, when be taken aback referred tothe stalling of a ship caused by a wind shift that made the sails lay back against the masts. Itsfigurative use was first recorded in 1829.

e) A wild goose chase

A wild goose chase is a waste of time- time spent trying to do something unsuccessfully.

f) By leaps and bounds

Rapidly, or in fast progressThe corn is growing by leaps and boundsSchool enrollment is increasing by leaps and bounds. 

This term is a redundancy, since leap and bound both mean "spring" or "jump," but the two

words have been paired since Shakespeare's time and are still so used

g) As cool as a cucumber

If someone is as cool as a cucumber, they don't get worried by anything.

h) To burn midnight oil

Stay up late working or studyingThe semester is almost over and we're all burning the midnight oil before exams. 

This expression alludes to the oil in oil lamps. [Early 1600s]__________________________

1990

a) White elephant

27

A white elephant is an expensive burden; something that costs far too much money to run, likethe Millennium Dome in the UK.

b) Blue Blood

Someone with blue blood is royalty.

c) Cleanse the Augean stable

d) Apple of discord

Anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy

e) In good books

If someone is in your good books, you are pleased with or think highly of them at the moment.

f) Between the devil and the deep sea

If you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a dilemma; a difficultchoice.

g) Stare in the face / look in the face

Be glaringly obvious, although initially overlooked

The solution to the problem had been staring me in the face all along.I wouldn't know a Tibetan terrier if it looked me in the face. [Late 1600s]

h) Make off with

Depart in haste, run awayThe cat took one look at Richard and made off. [c. 1700]

Take something away; also, steal somethingI can't write it down; Tom made off with my pen.The burglars made off with the stereo and computer as well as jewellery. [Early 1800s]

__________________________

1991

28

i) Damocles' sword

Impending disasterThe likelihood of lay-offs has been a sword of Damocles over the department for months. 

This expression alludes to the legend of Damocles, a servile courtier to King Dionysius I ofSyracuse. The king, weary of Damocles' obsequious flattery, invited him to a banquet and seatedhim under a sword hung by a single hair, so as to point out to him the precariousness of hisposition. 

The idiom was first recorded in 1747. The same story gave rise to the expression hang by athread.

ii) Every inch

Completely, whollyHe was every inch a leader.I had to argue this case every inch of the way.

iii) Spade a spade

Speak frankly and bluntly, be explicitYou can always trust Mary to call a spade a spade. 

This term comes from a Greek saying, call a bowl a bowl, that was mistranslated into Latin byErasmus and came into English in the 1500s.

iv) On the sky

v) Palm off

Pass off by deception, substitute with intent to deceiveThe salesman tried to palm off a zircon as a diamond.The producer tried to palm her off as a star from the Metropolitan Opera. 

This expression alludes to concealing something in the palm of one's hand. It replaced the earlierpalm on in the early 1800s.

vi) Lip service

When people pay lip service to something, they express their respect, but they don't act on theirwords, so the respect is hollow and empty.

vii) A turn coat

29

One who goes to work / fight / play for the opposing side, traitor

viii) A wild goose chase

A futile search or pursuitI think she sent us on a wild goose chase looking for their beach house. 

This idiom originally referred to a form of 16th-century horse racing requiring riders to follow aleader in a particular formation (presumably resembling a flock of geese in flight). Its figurativeuse dates from about 1600.__________________________

1992

i) Between the devil and the deep sea

If you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a dilemma; a difficultchoice

ii) A wild goose chase

A worthless hunt or chase; a futile pursuit

iii) Over head and ears

iv) Time and tide

One must not procrastinate or delayLet's get on with the voting; time and tide won't wait, you know. 

This proverbial phrase, alluding to the fact that human events or concerns cannot stop thepassage of time or the movement of the tides, first appeared about 1395 in Chaucer's Prologue tothe Clerk's Tale. 

The alliterative beginning, time and tide, was repeated in various contexts over the years buttoday survives only in the proverb, which is often shortened (as above).

v) To live from hand to mouth

With only the bare essentials, existing precariouslyAfter she lost her job she was living from hand to mouth. 

This expression alludes to eating immediately whatever is at hand. [c. 1500]

30

vi) To beat about the bush

If someone doesn't say clearly what they mean and try to make it hard to understand, they arebeating about (around) the bush.

vii) To fish in troubled waters

Try to take advantage of a confused situationHe often buys up stock in companies declaring bankruptcy; fishing in troubled waters generallypays off. 

This term, first recorded in 1568, expresses the even older notion that fish bite more readilywhen seas are rough.

viii) A bird's eye-view

If you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly.__________________________

1993

a) Play truant

To stay away from school without permission

b) Play down

Make little of, minimize the importance ofA skillful salesman plays down the drawbacks of the product and emphasizes its good features.[First half of 1900s]

Play down to

Lower one's standards to meet the demands of someoneSome stand-up comics deliberately play down to the vulgar taste of their audiences. [Late 1800s]

c) Turn turtle

Capsize, turn upside downWhen they collided, the car turned turtle. This expression alludes to the helplessness of a turtle turned on its back, where its shell can nolonger protect it. [First half of 1800s]

d) Turn the corner

31

Pass a milestone or critical point, begin to recover.Experts say the economy has turned the corner and is in the midst of an upturn.The doctor believes he's turned the corner and is on the mend. 

This expression alludes to passing around the corner in a race, particularly the last corner. [Firsthalf of 1800s]

e) A fair weather friend

A fair-weather friend is the type who is always there when times are good but forgets about youwhen things get difficult or problems crop up.

f) Under a cloud

If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud.

g) Burn one’s boats / burn one's boats

Commit oneself to an irreversible course.Denouncing one's boss in a written resignation means one has burned one's bridges.Turning down one job before you have another amounts to burning your boats. 

Both versions of this idiom allude to ancient military tactics, when troops would cross a body ofwater and then burn the bridge or boats they had used both to prevent retreat and to foil a

pursuing enemy. [Late 1800s

h) Horse-trading

Negotiation marked by hard bargaining and shrewd exchangeThe restaurant owner is famous for his horse trading; he's just exchanged a month of free dinnersfor a month of free television commercials. 

This expression alludes to the notorious shrewdness of horse traders, who literally bought andsold horses. [c. 1820]__________________________

1994

(i) Between Scylla and Charybidis

In a position where avoidance of one danger exposes one to another danger.

(ii) Hobson’s choice

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An apparently free choice that actually offers no alternativeMy dad said if I wanted the car I could have it tonight or not at all—that's Hobson's choice. 

This expression alludes to Thomas Hobson of Cambridge, England, who rented horses andallowed each customer to take only the horse nearest the stable door. [Mid-1600s]

(iii) Sting in the tail

(iv) With open arms

Enthusiastically, warmlyThey received their new daughter-in-law with open arms. 

This term alludes to an embrace. [Mid-1600s]

(v) Wash one's hand of (To)

Refuse to accept responsibility for; abandon or renounceI've done all I can for him, and now I'm washing my hands of him. 

This expression alludes to Pontius Pilate's washing his hands before having Jesus put to death,saying "I am innocent of the blood of this just person" (Matthew 27:24).

(vi) Count one's chickens (To)

Make plans based on events that may or may not happenYou might not win the prize and you've already spent the money? Don't count your chickensbefore they hatch!I know you have big plans for your consulting business, but don't count your chickens. 

This expression comes from Aesop's fable about a milkmaid carrying a full pail on her head. Shedaydreams about buying chickens with the milk's proceeds and becoming so rich from sellingeggs that she will toss her head at suitors; she then tosses her head and spills the milk. 

Widely translated from the original Greek, the story was the source of a proverb and was usedfiguratively by the 16th century. Today it is still so well known that it often appears shortenedand usually in negative cautionary form (don't count your chickens).

(vii) Burn midnight oil (To)

Stay up late working or studyingThe semester is almost over and we're all burning the midnight oil before exams. 

This expression alludes to the oil in oil lamps. [Early 1600s]

1996

1- Bear out

Back up or confirmThe results bear out what he predicted.His story bears me out exactly. [Late 1400s]

2- Back out / back out of somethingMove or retreat backwards without turning; same as back away; withdraw from a situation, orbreak an agreement or engagementAfter the announcement appeared in the papers, Mary found it doubly difficult to back out of herengagement to Todd. [Early 1800s] 

3- Carry over

To keep something, usually merchandise, for a subsequent period

We'll carry over this summer's bathing suits for next winter's resort season.

Persist from one time or situation to anotherHis leadership in sports carried over to the classroom. [Late 1800s]

4- Come off

Happen, occur

The trip came off on schedule. [Early 1800s]

Acquit oneself, reach the end

This usage always includes a modifierWhenever challenged he comes off badly.This model is doomed to come off second-best. [Mid-1600s]Succeed, as in Our dinner party really came off. [Mid-1800s]

5- Fall back

Give ground, retreatThe troops fell back before the relentless enemy assault.He stuck to his argument, refusing to fall back. [c. 1600]

RecedeThe waves fell back from the shore. [c. 1800]

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6- Figure out

Discover or determineLet's figure out a way to help. [Early 1900s] 

Solve or decipherCan you figure out this puzzle? [Early 1800s]

To begin to comprehend someone or something; to come to understand someone or somethingbetterI just can't figure you out. I can't figure out quiet people readily.

7- learn to live with 

Get used to or accustom oneself to something that is painful, annoying, or unpleasantThe doctor said nothing more could be done about improving her sight; she'd just have to learn tolive with it.Pat decided she didn't like the new sofa but would have to learn to live with it.

8- Set in

Insert, put inI still have to set in the sleeves and then the sweater will be done. [Late 1300s]

Begin to happen or become apparent

Darkness was setting in as I left. [c. 1700]

Move toward the shore, said of wind or waterThe tide sets in very quickly here. [Early 1700s]

9- Cover up

Wrap up or enfold in order to protectBe sure to cover up the outdoor furniture in case of rain.It's cold, so be sure to cover up the baby. [Late 1800s]

Conceal something, especially a crimeThe opposition accused the President of covering up his assistant's suicide. [c. 1920]

10- Iron out

Work out, resolve, settleThey managed to iron out all the problems with the new production process.

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John and Mary finally ironed out their differences. 

This expression uses ironing wrinkled fabric as a metaphor for smoothing differences. [Mid-1800s]__________________________

1997

a) To beat the air / beat the wind

Continue to make futile attempts, fight to no purposeThe candidates for office were so much alike that we thought our vote amounted to beating theair. 

These phrases call up a vivid image of someone flailing away at nothing. [Late 1300s]

b) To beggar description

Defy or outdo any possible descriptionThe stage set was so elaborate, it beggared description. 

This term, alluding to the idea that words are insufficient to do something justice, was alreadyused by Shakespeare in Antony and Cleopatra (2:2):"For her own person It beggared all description."

c) To bring to mind

Cause to be rememberedThe film brought to mind the first time I ever climbed a mountain. 

This idiom, first recorded in 1433, appears in Robert Burns's familiar "Auld Lang Syne" (1788),in which the poet asks if old times should never be brought to mind.

d) To call in question / call into question

Dispute, challenge; also, cast doubt onHow can you call her honesty into question? 

This usage was first recorded in John Lyly's Euphues (1579): "That ... I should call in question the demeanour of all."

e) To cap it all / cap it all off

Finish or complete something

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To cap it all off they served three kinds of dessert.

Surpass or outdo somethingThis last story of Henry's caps them all. 

Both usages employ cap in the sense of “topping” something. [First half of 1800s]

f) To clip one's wings

To end a person's privileges; to take away someone's power or freedom to do something My father said that if I dind't start behaving, he was going to clip my wings. 

In acient Rome thousands of years ago, people clipped the wings of pet birds so that theycouldn't fly away. For centuries people have used the idiom "Clip one's wings" to mean brings aperson under control. 

g) To cross the Rubicon

Irrevocably commit to a course of action, make a fateful and final decision. Once he submitted his resignation, he had crossed the Rubicon. 

This phrase alludes to Julius Caesar's crossing the Rubicon River (between Italy and Gaul) in 49B.C., thereby starting a war against Pompey and the Roman Senate. Recounted in Plutarch'sLives: Julius Caesar (c. A.D. 110), the crossing gave rise to the figurative English usage by theearly 1600s.

h) To feel the pulse / feel the pulse of

Try to determine the intentions or sentiments of a person or groupThese exit polls allegedly take the pulse of the voters, but I don't believe they're very meaningful.[First half of 1600s]

i) To fly in the face of / fly in the teeth of

Act in direct opposition to or defiance ofThis decision flies in the face of all precedent.They went out without permission, flying in the teeth of house rules. 

This metaphoric expression alludes to a physical attack. [Mid-1500s]

j) To rise like a phoenix from its ashesIn life we should all learn from the mistakes that we have made and try not to repeat them. Weshould not let sorrow overcome us and stand in our way. Learn to overcome hardships in life isall what life is worth living about. After all that's the definition of life. Hence the saying "rise like

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a phoenix from the ashes"

Phoenix is supposed to be a mythological bird of fire that is believed to die in flames and turn toash. But then it comes back to life from the same ash. __________________________

1998

1- The last ditch

A desperate final attemptWe're making a last-ditch effort to finish on time. 

This expression alludes to the military sense of last ditch, "the last line of defence." Its figurativeuse dates from the early 1800s.

2- A square meal

A substantial or complete mealThese airlines never feed you; I haven't had a square meal on one yet. [Mid-1800s]

3- Go public

Become a publicly held company, that is, issue ownership shares in the form of stock.As soon as the company grows a little bigger and begins to show a profit, we intend to go public.[Mid-1900s]

4- Run riot (wild)

Behave in a frenzied, out-of-control, or unrestrained mannerI was afraid that if I left the toddler alone she would run amok and have a hard time calmingdown.The weeds are running riot in the lawnThe children were running wild in the playground. 

Amok comes from a Malay word for "frenzied" and was adopted into English, and at first spelledamuck, in the second half of the 1600s. 

Run riot dates from the early 1500s and derives from an earlier sense, that is, a hound's followingan animal scent. Run wild alludes to an animal reverting to its natural, uncultivated state; itsfigurative use dates from the late 1700s.

5- The backroom boy

Men who play poker and smoke in a room at the back of the store

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When the police raided Gino's they arrested four of the backroom boys.

6- Foot the bill

The person who foots the bill pays the bill for everybody, settle the accountsThe bride's father was resigned to footing the bill for the wedding. 

This expression uses foot in the sense of "add up and put the total at the foot, or bottom, of anaccount." [Colloquial; early 1800s]

7- Set the pace

Establish a standard for others to followJim has set the pace for the department, exceeding the monthly quota every time. 

This expression comes from racing, where it is said of a horse that passes the others and leads thefield. It was transferred to other activities in the early 1900s.

8- At times

Occasionally, sometimesAway from home for the first time, Mary was homesick at times. [Early 1500s]

9- Steal the show / steal the spotlight

Be the center of attentionThe speeches were interesting but Eliza's singing stole the show. 

This idiom alludes to unexpectedly outshining the rest of the cast in a theatrical production. [Firsthalf of 1900s]

10- Grey matter

Grey/gray matter is the human brain__________________________

1999

(a) A jaundiced eye

The phrase "Jaundiced eye" means to looks at something with a prejudiced view, usually in arather negative or critical manner.

(b) A left-handed compliment / backhanded compliment

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An insult in the guise of an expression of praiseShe said she liked my hair, but it turned out to be a left-handed compliment when she asked howlong I'd been dyeing it. 

This expression uses left-handed in the sense of "questionable or doubtful," a usage dating fromabout 1600.

(c) The ruling passion

An interest or concern that occupies a large part of someone's time and effort

(d) Tower of strength

Someone who can be relied on to provide support and comfort.

(e) Steal a march on someone

To get ahead of, especially by quiet enterprise.

(f) In one's bones

Have an intuition or hunch about somethingI'm sure he'll succeed—I can feel it in my bones. 

This expression alludes to the age-old notion that persons with a healed broken bone or witharthritis experience bone pain before rain, due to a drop in barometric pressure, and therefore canpredict a weather change. 

(g) Hang in the balance

Be in a precarious condition or in a state of suspenseThe doctor said her life was hanging in the balance. 

This expression alludes to the suspended balance scale where an object is placed in one pan andweights are added one by one to the other pan until the two are balanced.

(h) Fly in the ointment

A drawback or detrimental factorThe new library is wonderful but there's a fly in the ointment. Their catalog isn't complete yet. 

This term probably alludes to a biblical proverb (Ecclesiastes 10:1): "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour."

(i) Close-fisted

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Tightfisted; stingy or unwilling to part with money__________________________

2000

(i) Blow one's top / blow one's stack

Fly into a rage; lose one's composureIf she calls about this one more time I'm going to blow my top.Warren is generally very easy-going, but today he blew his stack. The top here has been likened to the top of an erupting volcano; the stack alludes to asmokestack. 

Go crazy; become insane

When she regains consciousness, she just may blow her top. 

(ii) A cock-and-bull story

A fanciful and unbelievable tale

(iii) Find one's feet

To grow in confidence in a new situation as one gains experience.If you ask for help when you need it, you will soon find your feet.

(iv) Call it a night

To go to bed to sleep

(v) The tip of the iceberg

The tip of the iceberg is the part of a problem that can be seen, with far more serious problemslying underneath

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(vi) Below par / under par

Not up to the average, normal, or desired standardI am feeling below par today, but I'm sure I'll recover by tomorrow. 

This term employs par in the sense of "an average amount or quality," a usage dating from thelate 1700s.

(vii) From pillar to post

If something is going from pillar to post, it is moving around in a meaningless way, from onedisaster to another.

(viii) Hang up/ hang up on

Suspend on a hook or hanger, as in Let me hang up your coat for you. [c. 1300]Replace a telephone receiver in its cradle; end a phone conversationShe hung up the phoneHe hung up on her. [Early 1900s]

Delay or hinder; also, become halted or snaggedBudget problems hung up the project for months.Traffic was hung up for miles. [Second half of 1800s]

Have or cause to have emotional difficultiesBeing robbed at gunpoint can hang one up for years to come. [Slang; early 1900s]

Obsessed withFor years the FBI was hung up on Communist spies. [First half of 1900s]

hang up one's sword or gloves or fiddle

Quit, retireHe's hanging up his sword next year and moving to Florida. 

The noun in these expressions refers to the profession one is leaving—sword for the military,gloves for boxing, and fiddle for music—but they all are used quite loosely as well, as in theexample.

hang up one's hat

Settle somewhere, reside"Eight hundred a year, and as nice a house as any gentleman could wish to hang up his hat in"(Anthony Trollope, The Warden, 1855).

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(ix) Turn some one on 

To create feeling of excitement, interest, lust, pleasure etc

(ix) Turn some one off

To create feelings of dislike, repulsion, disgust etc

(x) By and by

After a while, soonShe'll be along by and by. 

The expression probably relies on the meaning of by as a succession of quantities (as in "two bytwo"). This adverbial phrase came to be used as a noun, denoting either procrastination or the future. William Camden so used it for the former (Remains, 1605): "Two anons and a by and by is an hour and a half." And W.S. Gilbert used it in the latter sense when Lady Jane sings plaintively that little will beleft of her "in the coming by and by," that is, as she grows old (Patience, 1881). [Early 1500s]__________________________

2001

(i) The teaming meaningsThe teaming meanings ::: Present a number of meaningsexample : During the lecture, the professor gave the teeming meanings on the topic.

(ii) To kick the bucket

When someone kicks the bucket, they die

(iii) To push to the walls

To place in a desperate or extreme position

(iv) To read between the lines

If you read between the lines, you find the real message in what you're reading or hearing, ameaning that is not available from a literal interpretation of the words.(v) To be at daggers drawn

If people are at daggers drawn, they are very angry and close to violence.

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(vi) To throw down the gauntlet

Declare or issue a challengeThe senator threw down the gauntlet on the abortion issue. 

This expression alludes to the medieval practice of a knight throwing down his gauntlet, or metalglove, as a challenge to combat. Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1700s, as does the less frequently heard takeup the gauntlet, for accepting a challenge.

(vii) To be a Greek / it's all Greek to me

It is beyond my comprehensionThis new computer program is all Greek to me. 

This expression was coined by Shakespeare, who used it literally in Julius Caesar (1:2), whereCasca says of a speech by Seneca, deliberately given in Greek so that some would notunderstand it: "For mine own part, it was Greek to me." It soon was transferred to anything unintelligible.

(viii) To stand on ceremony

Stand on ceremony, to behave in a formal or ceremonious manner.

(ix) From the horse's mouth

If you hear something from the horse's mouth, you hear it directly from the person concerned orresponsible.

(x) To carry the cross__________________________

2002

Make sentences with the given Idiomatic phrases so that their meaning become clear: (10) 

(1) take aback 

Surprise, shockHe was taken aback by her caustic remark. 

This idiom comes from nautical terminology of the mid-1700s, when be taken aback referred tothe stalling of a ship caused by a wind shift that made the sails lay back against the masts. Itsfigurative use was first recorded in 1829.

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(2) take after 

Follow the example of; also, resemble in appearance, temperament, or characterBill took after his uncle and began working as a volunteer for the Red Cross. [Mid-1500s]

(3) take for 

(4) take ill (sick)

Become illIt's just my luck to get sick on vacation.When was she taken ill? [Ninth century]

Become disgustedWe got sick as we learned how much money was wasted.I get sick when I hear about his debts. [Early 1500s] 

make one sick.

get sick to one's stomach

be sick, become nauseated, vomitIf you eat any more candy you'll get sick.Sick to her stomach every morning? She must be pregnant. [Early 1600s]

(5) take off 

RemoveTake off your coat and stay for a while.I took my foot off the brake. [c. 1300]

Deduct, decreaseHe took 20 percent off the original price.I want you to trim my hair, but please don't take off too much. [c. 1700]

Carry or take awayThe passengers were taken off one by one. [Late 1800s]

take oneself off

Leave, go awayI'm taking off now.We take ourselves off for China next month

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as an imperativeTake yourself off right now! [First half of 1800s]

Move forward quicklyThe dog took off after the car.

Become well known or popular, or achieve sudden growthThat actor's career has really taken off.Sales took off around the holidays. [Mid-1900s]

Rise in flightThe air plane took off on time. [Mid-1800s]

DiscontinueThe rail road took off the commuter special. [Mid-1700s]

Imitate humorously or satiricallyHe had a way of taking off the governor that made us howl with laughter. [Mid-1700s]

Withhold serviceI'm taking off from work today because of the funeral. [First half of 1900s]

(6) take over 

Assume control, management, or possession ofThe pilot told his copilot to take over the controls.There's a secret bid to take over our company. [Late 1800s]

(7) take for 

To regard asDo you take me for a fool? 

To consider mistakenlyDon't take silence for approval.

(8) take in 

To grant admittance to; receive as a guest or an employee

To reduce in size; make smaller or shortertook in the waist on the pair of pants. 

To include or constitute. 

46

To understandCouldn't take in the meaning of the word. 

To deceive or swindlewas taken in by a confidence artist. 

To look at thoroughly; viewtook in the sights. 

To accept (work) to be done in one's house for paytook in typing. 

To convey (a prisoner) to a police station.

(9) take to task 

Upbraid, scold; blame or censureThe teacher took Doris to task for turning in such a sloppy report. 

This term, dating from the mid-1700s, at first meant either assigning or challenging someone to a

task. Its current sense dates from the late 1800s.

(10) take to One's heels 

Run awayWhen the burglar alarm went off they took to their heels. 

This expression alludes to the fact that the heels are all one sees of a fugitive running away fast.Although similar expressions turned up from Shakespeare's time on, the exact idiom dates onlyfrom the first half of the 1800s

(11) take with a grain or pinch of salt. 

Skeptically, with reservationsI always take Sandy's stories about illnesses with a grain of salt—she tends to exaggerate. 

This expression is a translation of the Latin cum grano salis, which Pliny used in describingPompey's discovery of an antidote for poison (to be taken with a grain of salt). It was soonadopted by English writers.__________________________

2003

(1) Kick the bucket

47

To die

(2) Bolt from the blue

If something happens unexpectedly and suddenly, it is a bolt from the blue.

(3) Put your foot down

When someone puts their foot down, they make a firm stand and establish their authority on anissue.

(4) Worth your salt

Someone who is worth their salt deserves respect.

(5) Down the drain

On the way to being lost or wasted; disappearing

Buying new furniture when they can't take it with them is just pouring money down the drain.During the Depression huge fortunes went down the drain. 

This metaphoric term alludes to water going down a drain and being carried off. 

(6) All cars

(7) Swan song

A person's swansong is their final achievement or public appearance.

(8) Cheek by Jowl

If things or people are cheek by jowl, they are very close together.

(9) in a nutshell

Concisely, in a few wordsHere's our proposal—in a nutshell, we want to sell the business to you. 

This hyperbolic expression alludes to the Roman writer Pliny's description of Homer's Iliadbeing copied in so tiny a hand that it could fit in a nutshell. 

For a time it referred to anything compressed, but from the 1500s on it referred mainly to writtenor spoken words.

48

(10) Give me five

If someone says this, they want to hit your open hand against theirs as a way of congratulationor greeting.__________________________ 2004

1. To bring grist to the mill.

Something that you can use to your advantage is grist for the mill.

2. Set one's cap at

Pursue someone romanticallyWe all thought Anne had set her cap for Joe, but we were wrong. 

In the 1700s this term, which may have alluded to donning one's best headgear, was applied tomembers of either sex, but by the early 1800s it generally described a woman chasing a man. It is

probably obsolescent.

3. To draw the long bow

If someone draws a long bow, they lie or exaggerate.

4. To send a person to Coventry 

To ostracize, or systematically ignore someone

5. Beer and skittles

People say that life is not all beer and skittles, meaning that it is not about self-indulgence andpleasure.

6. The acid test

An acid test is something that proves whether something is good, effective, etc, or not.

7. A skeleton in the cupboard.

If you have a skeleton in the cupboard, or in the closet, you have a secret in your past whichcould damage you if it became known.

8. To discover a mare's nest

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__________________________

2005

1). Keep ones nose to the grindstone 

Stay hard at workWe expect John to get good grades again, since he really keeps his nose to the grindstone. 

This expression, first recorded in 1539, alludes to a tool that must be sharpened by being held toa grindstone.

2). Throw someone for a loop / throw for a loop

knock down or over with a feather; knock sideways, overcome with surprise or astonishmentThe news of his death knocked me for a loop.Being fired without any warning threw me for a loop.Jane was knocked sideways when she found out she won. 

The first two of these hyperbolic colloquial usages, dating from the first half of the 1900s, alludeto the comic-strip image of a person pushed hard enough to roll over in the shape of a loop. The third hyperbolic term, often put as You could have knocked me down with a feather,intimating that something so light as a feather could knock one down, dates from the early1800s; the fourth was first recorded in 1925.

3). Letter perfect 

The precise wording rather than the spirit or intent.Since it was the first time he'd broken the rules, the school decided to ignore the letter of the lawand just give him a warning. [Late 1500s]

4). Off the wall 

Something that is off the wall is unconventional.

5). Out to lunch 

If someone's out to lunch, they are crazy or out of touch.

6). Salt something away 

Keep in reserve, store, saveHe salted away most of his earnings in a bank account. This idiom alludes to using salt as a food preservative. [Mid-1800s]

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7). Take someone to the cleaners 

Take or cheat one out of all of one's money or possessionsHer divorce lawyer took him to the cleaners.That broker has taken a number of clients to the cleaners. [Slang; early 1900s]

Drub, beat upHe didn't just push you—he took you to the cleaners. [Slang; early 1900s]

8). Wear the pants in the family

Exercise controlling authority in a householdGrandma or husband (incase of husband and wife) wears the pants at our house.__________________________

2006

(1) Twiddle with

To play with something; to play with something, using one's fingers; to fiddle with something. I asked Jason to stop twiddling with the pencils. Someone is twiddling with the stereo controls.

(2) Vamp up

Make upvamp up an excuse for not attending the meeting

(3) Whittle away

cut away in small pieces, to cut or carve something awayThe carver whittled the wood away until only a small figure was left. He whittled away the wood.

(4) Winkle out

Force from a place or positionThe committee winkled out the unqualified candidates.

(5) Give someone the bum's rush

To eject (or be ejected) forcibly

(6) Loom large

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Appear imminent in a threatening, magnified formThe possibility of civil war loomed large on the horizon.Martha wanted to take it easy for a week, but the bar exam loomed large. 

This term employs loom in the sense of "come into view", a usage dating from the late 1500s.

(7) Besetting sin

A sin which is habitually attending a person, a prevailing or predominant viceWe regret to say that apathy is the besetting sin of our rural population.

(8) To hang fire

DelayThe advertising campaign is hanging fire until they decide how much to spend on it. 

This expression originally referred to the 17th-century flintlock musket, where the priming

powder ignited but often failed to explode the main charge, a result called hanging fire. [c. 1800]__________________________

2007

1) To put the lid on / keep the lid on

SuppressI don't know how but we'll have to put the lid on that rumor about her.Let's keep the lid on our suspicions. 

The word lid here is used in the sense of "a cover for a container." [Early 1900s]

2) Flavour if the mouth

Something that is prominent in the public eye for a short time then fades out of interest. 

Originally a term of approval for something that was up to the minute and desirable. It has beenused ironically from the late 20th century to pass disdainful comment on things which pass out offashion quickly. For example, the "one hit wonders" of the music business.

3) Zero hours

The time when something important is to begin is zero hour.

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4) Gloom and doom

the feeling that a situation is bad and is not likely to improveCome on, it's not all doom and gloom, if we make a real effort we could still win.

5) To pig out

Eat ravenously, gorge oneselfThe kids pigged out on the candy they had collected on Halloween. [Slang; early 1970s]

6) Bag people

7) Compassion fatigue

A weariness of and diminishing public response to frequent requests for charity.

8) No matters

Some thing which is not important__________________________

2008i. Blow one's top 

To be very angry, Explode in anger, lose one's temper, go into a rage

ii. A cock and bull story 

An unbelievable tale that is intended to deceive; a tall taleJack told us some cock and bull story about getting lost. 

This expression may come from a folk tale involving these two animals, or from the name of anEnglish inn where travellers told such tales. W.S. Gilbert used it in The Yeomen of the Guard (1888), where Jack Point and Wilfred the Jailermake up a story about the hero's fictitious death: "Tell a tale of cock and bull, Of convincingdetail full." [c. 1600]

iii. Find one's feet 

To be confident, become adjusted; become established

iv. Call it a night 

To stop what one has been doing, for the remainder of the night. 

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v. The tip of the iceberg 

vi. Below par 

Less than average, less than normal

vii. From pillar to post 

From one place or thing to another in rapid succession

viii. Hang up 

Hold on , suspend; end a telephone conversation 

ix. Turn some one in

x. By and by 

Pretty soon, it won't be long now; gradually, eventually__________________________

2009

(i) Leave in the lurch

Abandon or desert someone in difficult straitsJane was angry enough to quit without giving notice, leaving her boss in the lurch. Where were you Karman, you really left me in the lurch 

This expression alludes to a 16th-century French dice game, lourche, where to incur a lurchmeant to be far behind the other players. It later was used in cribbage and other games, as well asbeing used in its present figurative sense by about 1600.

(ii) Hard and fast

Defined, fixed, invariableWe have hard and fast rules for this procedure. There is no hard and fast rule to start a computer 

This term originally was applied to a vessel that has come out of water, either by runningaground or being put in dry dock, and is therefore unable to move. By the mid-1800s it wasbeing used figuratively.

(iii) Weather the storm

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Survive difficultiesIf she can just weather the storm of that contract violation, she'll be fine. 

This expression alludes to a ship coming safely through bad weather. [Mid-1600s]

(iv) Bear the brunt

Put up with the worst of some bad circumstanceIt was the secretary who had to bear the brunt of the doctor's anger. I had to bear the brunt of her screaming and yelling 

This idiom uses brunt in the sense of "the main force of an enemy's attack," which was sustainedby the front lines of the defenders. [Second half of 1700s]

(v) Meet halfway

If you meet someone halfway, you accept some of their ideas and make concessions.If you want to settle the issues you have to meet me halfway 

(vi) Turncoat

one who goes to work / fight / play for the opposing side, traitor That turncoat! He went to work for the competition - Sears.Ahmed is Turncoat and we should not relied upon him

(vii) Where the shoe pinches

The source of trouble, grief, difficulty, etc.

2010

1. Make for (intr, preposition)

1. to head towards, esp in haste2. to prepare to attack3. to help to bring about 

your cooperation will make for the success of our projectThis class will make for the Auditorium now.

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2. Yeoman's serviceEfficient, useful or loyal service;arduous work

Tipu sultan rendered yeoman service for the the Islam

3. Discretion is the better part of valour:something that you say which means that it is better to be careful and think before you act thanit is to be brave and take risks She decided not to voice her opposition to the Chairman's remarks. Perhaps discretion was thebetter part of valour

4. Out of the woodspast a critical phase; out of the unknown.When the patient got out of the woods, everyone relaxed. 

I can give you a better prediction for your future health when you are out of the woods.

5. A casting votedecisive voteThe speaker used his casting vote in the favour of proposition

6. Look down uponthink nothing of,be contemptuous ofDo not look down upon the down and out

7. IconoclastOne who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions.One who destroys sacred religious images.He was an iconoclast who refused to be bound by tradition.

8. A swan songA farewell or final appearance, action, or work.The beautiful legendary song sung only once by a swan in its lifetime, as it is dying.I'm resigning tomorrow; this project was my swan song. 

IDIOMS MEANINGS

1. To add insult to injury; To intensify a person2. To be born with a silver To be born in a rich family Spoon in one’s mouth;3. A bolt from the blue; An expected disaster4. To blow one’s own trumpet; To boast 5. A bone of contention ; Cause of quarrel6. To burn one’s fingers ; To suffer7. To beat black & blue ; To beat mercilessly8. To cast an aspersion ; To bring discredit9. To cry over spilt milk ; To feel sorry for what has happened10. To cut a sorry figure ; To make a poor impression11. To die in harness ; To die while doing one’s duty 12. To end in smoke ; To fail13. To go to the dogs ; To be ruined14. To hang in the balance ; To remain undecided15. To hit the nail on the head; To do the right thing at the right time16. To hold water ; To sound logical17. To live no stone unturned ; To try one’s level best18. To live from hand to mouth ; To live with great difficulty19. To make up one’s mind ; To decide20. To see eye to eye with ; Agree21. To play ducks and drakes ; Waste22. To put the cart before the hors ; To do a thing in a wrong way23. To have too many irons in the fire ; To have too many things in hand24. To read b/w the lines ; To try to understand the hidden meaning25. To turn over a new leaf ; To change for the better26. To take the bull by horns; To face difficulties boldly

27. To win laurels ; To distinguish oneself28. At daggers drawn ; At enmity or fighting 29. Blake and white ; Written30. By leaps and bounds ; Very fast31. In cold blood ; deliberately32. Laid up with ; Confined to bed33. Ins and outs ; Full details34. A black sheep ; Scoundrel; a bad person35. A cock and bull story ; An absurd tale36. A gala day ; A day of festivity; a holiday with rejoicing37. A hard nut to crack ; A difficult person or problem to deal with38. A turn coat ; One who changes one’s opinion or party39. A fool’s paradise ; In a state of happiness founded on vain hopes40. Beat a retreat ; To retire before the enemy41. To be on the horns of a dilemma; To have a choice b/w two equal evils42. To beat about the bush ; Approach a subject in a round about method43. Bury the hatchet ; To make peace44. By fits and starts ; Irregularly45. Capital punishment ; Death sentence46. By hook or by crook ; By fair or foul means47. Eat humble pie ; To face humiliation48. Hit below the belt ; To act unfairly49. In apple pie order ; In perfect order50. Leave one in lurch ; To desert in difficulty51. To make a clean breast of ; To confess fully one’s faults52. To nip the evil in the bud ; To destroy an evil in early stage53. Pick holes in another’s coat ; To find fault with another54. Scot free ; To go unpunished55. Smell a rat ; To have a reason to suspect56. Through thick and thin ; Through every difficulty57. True to one’s salt ; Faithful to one’s master58. To turn the corner ; To begin to improve59. With a grain of salt ; To accept a statement with doubt as to its complete true60. Worship the rising sun ; To respect one rising in power61. A Herculean task ; An extremely difficult or dangerous task62. A fish out of water ; In a wrong place63. A leap in the dark ; An act of which we can’t force consequences64. A thorn in one’s side ; A constant source of annoyance65. To be at one’s beck and call ; Under one’s absolute control66. Bread and Butter ; Means of subsistence67. Burn one’s fingers ; To get into trouble68. Burn the candle at both ends; Use up too much energy69. To cut the Gordian knot ; To solve the difficulty70. Cut and dried ; Ready-made71. Feather one’s own nest ; To make money by unfair means72. To fish in troubled water ; To do something under very unpromisingcircumstance73. To give oneself airs ; Affected manners

74. To give the devil his due ; To allow even a bad man the credit due75. To hang by thread ; To be in a critical condition76. A henpecked husband ; A man habitually snubbed by his wife77. Hush money ; Money given as a bribe to hush or make one keep silent78. Kick up a row ; Make a great noise79. To let the cat out of the bag; To reveal a secret80. Null and void ; Not valid; of no effect81. On the spur of the moment; At once82. Pay one back in one’s own coin ; To treat in the same way as one has beentreated83. Put in cold storage; To forget or neglect something84. Pull wires ; To manage the show by secret Influence85. Read b/w the lines ; To hit at the real meaning 86. Sit on the fence ; To avoid taking sides; to remain neutral87. A square deal ; Justice88. Sword of Damocles ; Treating danger89. To take up the gauntlet ; To accept the challenge 90. To eat one’s heart out ; To suffer silently, bitterly91. B/t the devil and the deep sea ; B/w two dangers equally harmful92. A sweet tooth ; A liking for sweetmeat93. A dark horse ; An unknown person94. A bottleneck ; Anything that cause delays95. To put one’s foot down ; To show determination 96. A wet blanket ; A grumbling, depressing person97. To throw up the sponge ; To acknowledge defeat98. A feather in one’s cap ; Something to be proud of 99. A red letter day ; An auspicious day

100. Bag and baggage ; With all one’s belongings