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]
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
"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."
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Words for All Occasions
It pays to have the right words at your disposal, no matter what the situation. Try using some of the words below when you have the opportunity.
You win the lottery. How do you feel? Maybe jubilant, elated, euphoric, or ecstatic?
You want to recommend a book that you're reading: Rather than saying it's merely a "good" book, describe it as absorbing, engrossing, or riveting.
A few alternatives to "laughing": chortling (coined by Lewis Carroll); chuckling; giggling (mostly the province of teenage girls?); guffawing (exclusive to older guys?); tittering.
A "friendly" or "nice" person: use something fresh, such as affable (Larry David was just trying to be that in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm); amiable ("Why wasn't he amiable in his lifetime?," Mrs. Dilber wonders in A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim); gregarious; personable.
You win the lottery. How do you feel? Maybe jubilant, elated, euphoric, or ecstatic?
You want to recommend a book that you're reading: Rather than saying it's merely a "good" book, describe it as absorbing, engrossing, or riveting.
A few alternatives to "laughing": chortling (coined by Lewis Carroll); chuckling; giggling (mostly the province of teenage girls?); guffawing (exclusive to older guys?); tittering.
A "friendly" or "nice" person: use something fresh, such as affable (Larry David was just trying to be that in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm); amiable ("Why wasn't he amiable in his lifetime?," Mrs. Dilber wonders in A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sim); gregarious; personable.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Answers to February 27 Quiz
The unforgettable Spy magazine once called Nancy Reagan a "pinch-faced doxy."
The novel Running With Scissors featured a "dry-cleaned son."
The words "staggeringly popular" were uttered in Monty Python's cheese shop sketch.
"Out, vile jelly!" is from Shakespeare's King Lear.
Woody Allen films: "homunculus" is from Manhattan and "jejune" is from Love and Death.
Mel Brooks' complaint about failing to get a "harrumph" out of a certain person was spoken in Blazing Saddles.
The novel Running With Scissors featured a "dry-cleaned son."
The words "staggeringly popular" were uttered in Monty Python's cheese shop sketch.
"Out, vile jelly!" is from Shakespeare's King Lear.
Woody Allen films: "homunculus" is from Manhattan and "jejune" is from Love and Death.
Mel Brooks' complaint about failing to get a "harrumph" out of a certain person was spoken in Blazing Saddles.
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