A sham is something fake or false, also the North American name for a certain kind of pillow covering. A scam is a scheme to take advantage of someone, usually involving taking someone’s money. A scammer is someone who runs a scam. People can also be scammed. Examples Hundreds of others just like them are seeking fellow …
A vale is a valley, also a common township name in Wales. To vail is to take off your hat in a sign of respect. It is so archaic we were not able to find modern examples of its use. In the U.S., the word is more commonly associated with the Vail ski resort in Colorado. …
A blitzkrieg is a rapid or intense attack of any kind. Its abbreviation blitz is more common. Blitzkrieg is also a verb that can be used in the forms of blitzkrieged and blitzkrieging. It must be used with an object. A blitz can also be a team play in American football. It has the same meaning of an intense attach, usually …
To vaunt is to brag or boast about something. A common form is much vaunted followed by an object, meaning the object has been talked of a lot. Though it is commonly seen with a hyphen, the correct form is without. Archaicly a vaunt was a singular boast. Examples Authorities vaunt the “success” of Tunisia’s …
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To rend something is to rip it into pieces. It changes to rent in the past tense and in the (uncommon) past participle. Rend has a figurative definition of tearing as well, which allows for a heart to rend in literature and for a sound to rend the air. The word can also be used without an object. Rend is …
Paraphernalia are specific objects needed to do a specific activity. It can also be defined as personal belongings. It is a mass plural, but can be used as singular or plural in a sentence. Derivatives of paraphernalia include the adjectives paraphernalian and paraphernal. History The original definition of paraphernalia was anything belonging to a bride beyond her …
Matrix has many meanings. It can be a pattern created by lines crossing to make spaces. It can be a surrounding structure in which something develops. This can be a set of conditions, a situation, or an actual structure. A matrix is also a diagram showing the line of command in an organization. …
A dervish is a Muslim of particular religious order. They are known for their worship rituals which require the dervish to spin very fast causing his clothing to fan out in a circle. The men wear large circular skirts to capitalize on this effect. To call something a whirling dervish is to say that object …
Cause célèbre isn’t a term you hear often used in everyday conversation. I’ve really only ever seen it within the context of a powerful new story. But it’s a phrase that can be applied to anything popular or high profile, like a murder case or celebrity gossip. Let’s take a …
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The devil is in the details sounds like an ominous warning, doesn’t it? But in fact, it is simply an idiomatic phrase that lovers of figurative expression use to point out that one should pay attention to all they do. Chances are you’ve heard the phrase used, and when you …