Make or break and make or mar are idioms. We will examine the meaning of the expressions make or break and make or mar, where they came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Make or break and make or mar are phrases that mean to bring success or ruin, to bring triumph or failure. Make or break and make or mar are phrases that conjure up absolutes. They describe a situation that will either make someone rich, …
A monkey on your back means that you’re burdened by a problem, obligation, or some kind of addiction. Think of it as that pesky little critter who won’t let go, no matter how much you try. Its origin comes from the image of a person carrying an unshakeable amount of anger around, but it’s evolved in usage today. Idioms like this one aren’t meant to have literal meanings. They’re metaphorical expressions we use to communicate in more visual ways. Read …
The words might and mite are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. Homophones exist because of our ever-changing English language. The way the spelling and definitions differ can be confusing. Pronunciation may change, even though the spelling doesn’t, producing two words that are pronounced in the same manner but have different meanings such as night and knight. English words are also spelled according to their etymologies rather than their …
The termsmob justice andmob rule came into use in the 1800s, though the term mob rule is used more frequently. We will examine the definitions of the terms mob justice andmob rule, where the idea of this phenomenon was first described, and some examples of the use of these terms in sentences. Mob justice andmob rule refer to a type of majority rule that is a form of anarchy. In a mob justice ormob rule incident, a crowd gathers, sometimes …
Marginalize or marginalise, and minimize or minimise, are words that are often confused. We will examine the difference between the definitions of marginalize or marginalise and minimize or minimise, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Marginalize or marginalise means to treat someone as so unimportant that he exists outside the group. Someone who is marginalized is shunted to the periphery, his needs and wants deemed too unimportant to address. Marginalize is often used …
Martin and marten are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings. They are homophones. We will examine the definitions of martin and marten, where these terms came from and some examples of their use in sentences. A martin is a insect-eating bird that is a member of the swallow family. In North America, the purple martin is known for his prodigious ability to eat mosquitoes. For this reason, it is …
Mendacity and mendicity are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation, and may be confused. We will examine the definitions of mendacity and mendicity, where these two words came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Mendacity means lying or not telling the truth. Mendacity is noun, the adjective form is mendacious, the adverb form is mendaciously. The word mendacity is derived from the Latin word mendacium, which means a falsehood, a lie or fiction. Mendicity …
Mall and maul are two words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings. They are homophones. We will examine the definitions of mall and maul, where these two words came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Mall may refer to an outdoor promenade or public walkway. In the United States, a mall is a large shopping center consisting of many places of business with an enclosed promenade connecting the …
Lava and magma are two words that are sometimes used interchangeably, though there is a difference between the definitions of the terms. We will examine the meanings of the words lava and magma, where these two terms came from and some examples of their use in sentences. Lava is molten rock that has broken through the surface of the earth at the site of a volcano, through a vent or fissure. Lava may flow out of a volcano or explode …
Coddle and mollycoddle are two words that are sometimes interchangeable, though they also have secondary, unique definitions. We will examine the meanings of the words coddle and mollycoddle, where they came from, and some examples of their use in sentences. Coddle means to indulge someone, to pamper someone or overprotect him, to treat him as if he were a delicate flower. Coddle may also mean to cook an egg in hot water that is below the boiling point, rendering a …