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Decisive vs divisive

Decisive and divisive are two words that are pronounced and spelled similarly, but have different meanings. They are sometimes confused. We will examine the difference between the definitions of decisive and divisive, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Decisive means the ability to make a good decision quickly, or a situation in which a certain fact or occurrence makes the outcome a particular certainty. Decisive is an adjective, related forms are decisively and …

Discord vs accord

by Grammarist

Discord and accord are antonyms. Antonyms are two or more words that have opposite meanings. We will examine the definitions of the words discord and accord, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Discord is a lack of harmony between two or more people or two or more things, disagreement, conflict, the clashing of the ideas or opinions of two or more people. Discord is a noun, the adjective form is discordant. The word …

Daily grind

by Grammarist

The expression the daily grind has been in use for over a hundred years. We will examine the definition of the term the daily grind, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. The daily grind is one’s daily routine, one’s usual scope of work and activity that is boring and routine. The term daily grind is usually designated with the definite article, the. The term daily grind first appeared in the Illustrated London News in …

Indefatigable and defatigable

by Grammarist

Indefatigable is a word that is often found confusing, as well as its rarely-used antonym, defatigable. Antonyms are two or more words that have opposite meanings. We will examine the definitions of indefatigable and defatigable, where these terms came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Indefatigable describes someone who is untiring, someone energetic and relentless. Someone who is indefatigable can not be deterred. Indefatigable is an adjective, related words are indefatigability, indefatigably. The word indefatigable is derived …

Dossier

by Grammarist

The word dossier has a very straightforward meaning, though it has a very heavy connotation. A connotation is a feeling or meaning a word evokes beyond its literal meaning. We will examine the definition and connotation of the word dossier, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. A dossier is a collection of papers, documents or reports that all pertain to one subject, person or event. The word dossier does not carry a negative meaning, however …

Persuade vs dissuade

by Grammarist

Persuade and dissuade are antonyms, which are words that have opposing meanings. They are complementary antonyms, which are contradictory words. We will examine the definitions of persuade and dissuade, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Persuade means to talk someone into doing or believing something, to convince someone to believe or do something through reason or inducement. Persuade is a verb, related words are persuades, persuaded, persuading, the noun form is persuasion. The …

Dropping Like Flies – Idiom, Meaning & Origin

by Candace Osmond

Got your flyswatters ready? We’re tearing into a bug-riddled idiom today: dropping like flies. Don’t worry, it’s not an entomology lecture. Instead, we’re about to decipher the meaning and etymology of this colorful phrase. It’s not as morbid as it sounds, I promise! What Does Dropping Like Flies Mean? Dropping like flies certainly sounds a bit grim, doesn’t it? Thankfully, it’s not an instruction for pest control. When people or things are dropping like flies, they’re disappearing or becoming incapacitated …

Semi-, hemi-, and demi-

by Grammarist

Semi-, hemi- and demi- are all prefixes that mean the same thing for the most part, but are used in different circumstances. A prefix is a set of letters that is affixed to the beginning of a word in order to give it a new meaning. Prefixes are not words that may stand alone. Semi- is a prefix that means half, partially or almost. Semi- may also mean something that occurs twice within a specific amount of time. The prefix …

Dock vs doc

by Grammarist

Dock and doc are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the definitions fo the words dock and doc, where these terms came from and some examples of their use in sentences. A dock is an area in a port that is used for loading or unloading ships, or where ships are moored for repair, or it is a platform where a small …

Dumb down

by Grammarist

The term to dumb down was first used in the 1930s. We will examine the definition of the term dumb down, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences. The term dumb down means to make something simpler, to put something in simpler words or to advance an idea in intellectually simple terms so that the widest audience will understand it. To dumb down is a phrasal verb, related words are dumbs down, dumbed down, dumbing …

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