Decimate has a few obsolete meanings, including (1) to take a tenth of, (2) to divide into tenths, and (3) to put to death one in every tenth of, especially as punishment for mutiny.1 Today, however, it’s usually used to mean (1) to destroy a large part of, or (2) to inflict great destruction on. [Read more...]
Pixelated vs. pixilated
Though pixelated is the correct spelling of the word meaning rendered with visible pixels, there’s a good reason that spell check does not catch pixilated. Pixilated is an old, seldom-used Americanism dating from the middle of the 19th century and peaking (in this use) in the middle 20th century. It meant (1) crazed, bewildered, or whimsical, or (2) intoxicated.1 [Read more...]
Slam dunk
In basketball, a slam dunk is what happens when a player holding the basketball leaps into the air and forces the ball downward through the net. Among all types of scoring shots in basketball, the slam dunk is the only one that is virtually unmissable (barring some rare blunder). From this derives the metaphorical sense of slam dunk—that is, a maneuver or plan certain to succeed. [Read more...]
Careen vs. career
One definition of career is to move at full speed, especially with an uncontrolled or unsteady motion. Careen used to mean (1) to turn (a ship) on its side for cleaning or repairs, and (2) to lurch or sway, especially when in motion. But in modern usage, careen has come to mean to move fast, especially in an uncontrolled way, so it’s synonymous with career. [Read more...]
Make hay
The expression make hay has a few definitions. First, it’s short for the proverb make hay while the sun shines. Hay is difficult to prepare in wet weather, so the proverb points to the wisdom of taking advantage of opportunities while they’re available. Second, make hay means to turn [something] to one’s advantage.
Bête noire
In English, the French loanword bête noire refers to someone or something that is very troubling to someone.1 It might be something that is insufferable or contemptible, an endless source of torment, or just a pet peeve. [Read more...]
Wither vs. whither
Wither is a verb meaning (1) to shrivel or (2) to cause to shrivel. It’s often used metaphorically, especially in the participial adjective withering, which means devastating or overwhelming. It’s also used in the phrasal verb wither away, which is more emphatic than wither, connoting death or disappearance. [Read more...]
Cacti vs. cactuses
Cacti is the Latin plural of cactus, and some writers use it in English. Cactuses is the English plural. Dictionaries list both, and neither is right or wrong. Also, like many names of plants, the uninflected cactus is sometimes treated as plural. [Read more...]
Mea culpa
Mea culpa is Latin for through my own fault. In modern English, it’s usually a noun meaning an acknowledgement of one’s own error or an acceptance of guilt. It’s often used to describe an elaborate apology, especially one that is apparently heartfelt. [Read more...]
Band together, bandy about
To band together is to form a group or to cooperate. To bandy something about is to toss it around, literally or figuratively. Bandy’s exact origins are unknown, but it was originally used in tennis and similar sports, where to bandy a ball about is to hit it back and forth. [Read more...]
