That someday I can convince people from all around the world to utter the same word at the same time in global synchronicity, in an effort to encourage the use of more expressive and vivid language. Words such as:
diabolical; scathing; jubilant; luscious; panache
Details to be forthcoming.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
They Know Better Than You
Or so they think. Here are a few words regarding such people:
sanctimonious: making a pretense of piety or righteousness [some religious charlatans]
pietist: someone who is affectedly or exaggeratedly pious [see above]
Babbitt: a member of the American middle class whose attachment to its ideals is such as to make of him a model of narrow-mindedness and self-satisfaction. Used disparagingly. [After the main character in Sinclair Lewis's novel Babbitt.]
sanctimonious: making a pretense of piety or righteousness [some religious charlatans]
pietist: someone who is affectedly or exaggeratedly pious [see above]
Babbitt: a member of the American middle class whose attachment to its ideals is such as to make of him a model of narrow-mindedness and self-satisfaction. Used disparagingly. [After the main character in Sinclair Lewis's novel Babbitt.]
Friday, April 13, 2012
Some Useful Words
A hearty eater is a "trencherman," though more commonly known, perhaps, as a "glutton."
One word for an ill-tempered woman is "Xanthippe" (the name of Socrates' wife), who was known to be highly disagreeable.
How does one describe the voices of Tom Waits and Charles Bukowski? Perhaps with one of these three words:
husky: hoarse with or as if with emotion
throaty: heavy, thick, and deep as if from the throat
smoky: having a low throaty quality
One word for an ill-tempered woman is "Xanthippe" (the name of Socrates' wife), who was known to be highly disagreeable.
How does one describe the voices of Tom Waits and Charles Bukowski? Perhaps with one of these three words:
husky: hoarse with or as if with emotion
throaty: heavy, thick, and deep as if from the throat
smoky: having a low throaty quality
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Answers to "Which Movie?"
"Young Frankenstein"
"It's a Wonderful Life"
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
"A Christmas Carol" [1951 Alastair Sim version]
"It's a Wonderful Life"
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail"
"A Christmas Carol" [1951 Alastair Sim version]
Which Movie?
"abby normal"
"old mossback George"
"watery tart"
"I'll retire to bedlam" [may have used in previous post]
"old mossback George"
"watery tart"
"I'll retire to bedlam" [may have used in previous post]
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
More Useful Phrases and Words
infectious laughter
insufferably grim
diabolical villain
stimulating conversation
biting cold
A few favorite words:
putrid: extremely objectionable; vile [Rush Limbaugh, at times]
vilify: to defame; denigrate [what politicians do to their opponents, on occasion]
drivel: stupid, childish, or senseless talk; twaddle [the prattle of local newscasters]
insufferably grim
diabolical villain
stimulating conversation
biting cold
A few favorite words:
putrid: extremely objectionable; vile [Rush Limbaugh, at times]
vilify: to defame; denigrate [what politicians do to their opponents, on occasion]
drivel: stupid, childish, or senseless talk; twaddle [the prattle of local newscasters]
"Decrepitude" and Other Serviceable Words
decrepitude: the state of being decrepit; weakness; infirmity
crone: a withered, witchlike old woman
odious: exciting hatred or repugnance; abhorrent; offensive
Some phrases you could use:
incendiary rhetoric
fiery speech
glaring error
scathing review
withering critique
crone: a withered, witchlike old woman
odious: exciting hatred or repugnance; abhorrent; offensive
Some phrases you could use:
incendiary rhetoric
fiery speech
glaring error
scathing review
withering critique
Saturday, April 7, 2012
When Something Unfathomable and Unimaginable Happens
Express your outrage. Call it what it is: reprehensible (deserving of rebuke or censure; blameworthy), deplorable (worthy of severe reproach), or despicable (deserving of contempt or disdain; mean; vile).
Some bonus words you might find occasion to use:
fracas: a disorderly uproar; noisy quarrel; row; brawl
lurid: causing shock or horror
squalid: (1) having a dirty or wretched appearance (2) morally repulsive; sordid
The Internet, as defined by Urban Dictionary: A vast array of pornography and advertisements.
Some bonus words you might find occasion to use:
fracas: a disorderly uproar; noisy quarrel; row; brawl
lurid: causing shock or horror
squalid: (1) having a dirty or wretched appearance (2) morally repulsive; sordid
The Internet, as defined by Urban Dictionary: A vast array of pornography and advertisements.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Incomparable Urban Dictionary
A few random definitions from their first published volume:
blunt: A cigar that has been hollowed and refilled with marijuana.
I sat outside all day, sippin' on my 40 and smokin' blunts.
dawg: Friend. Usually informal and often used as greeting. Also "dogg."
I heard you're so fat you have your own zip code! No offense, Santa, you know you're my dawg.
that's what I'm talking about: Statement of agreement. Used even if you've never talked about the subject before.
Dude #1: Look at that chick!
Dude #2: That's what I'm talkin' about!
blunt: A cigar that has been hollowed and refilled with marijuana.
I sat outside all day, sippin' on my 40 and smokin' blunts.
dawg: Friend. Usually informal and often used as greeting. Also "dogg."
I heard you're so fat you have your own zip code! No offense, Santa, you know you're my dawg.
that's what I'm talking about: Statement of agreement. Used even if you've never talked about the subject before.
Dude #1: Look at that chick!
Dude #2: That's what I'm talkin' about!
I'm Finally Back
I've been away for an unforgivable amount of time. Really going to try to post at least something brief every day from now on.
I'm constantly collecting words/phrasings that I see in the newspaper or online, hear on the radio or TV. I then try to use as many of them as possible, which is the best way to fix them in your mind. Some recent examples of interest:
antiquated systems
august: (1) inspiring awe or admiration; majestic (2) venerable for reasons of age or high rank
baleful [a marvelous word] (1) harmful or malignant in intent or effect (2) portending evil; dire
blistering heat
derelict: adj. (1) neglectful of duty or obligation; remiss; delinquent n. (1) a social outcast; vagrant
searing criticism: to char, scorch, or burn the surface of with or as with a hot instrument
whimsical: (1) capricious; playful; arbitrary (2) unusual; fantastic; odd
Famed humorist Robert Benchley came out of a Manhattan restaurant and said to a uniformed man at the door, "Would you get me a taxi, please?" "I'm sorry," replied the man. "I'm an admiral in the United States Navy." "All right," said Benchley, "then get me a battleship."
I'm constantly collecting words/phrasings that I see in the newspaper or online, hear on the radio or TV. I then try to use as many of them as possible, which is the best way to fix them in your mind. Some recent examples of interest:
antiquated systems
august: (1) inspiring awe or admiration; majestic (2) venerable for reasons of age or high rank
baleful [a marvelous word] (1) harmful or malignant in intent or effect (2) portending evil; dire
blistering heat
derelict: adj. (1) neglectful of duty or obligation; remiss; delinquent n. (1) a social outcast; vagrant
searing criticism: to char, scorch, or burn the surface of with or as with a hot instrument
whimsical: (1) capricious; playful; arbitrary (2) unusual; fantastic; odd
Famed humorist Robert Benchley came out of a Manhattan restaurant and said to a uniformed man at the door, "Would you get me a taxi, please?" "I'm sorry," replied the man. "I'm an admiral in the United States Navy." "All right," said Benchley, "then get me a battleship."
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